As US midterm voting began on the 4th (Korea time), President Trump said in a Fox News interview that he had agreed to end roughly $4 billion a year in aid to Israel by the end of this year. He did not say which funding he meant or how it would end, and no official confirmation from the Israeli government has been reported.
According to Taiwan's Liberty Times, citing Reuters, Trump said on Fox & Friends: ‘We give Israel $4 billion every year, but months ago we agreed to stop this funding.’ He added that by year's end the US would no longer pay, but would help if needed. Reports also said US arms sales to Israel would continue.
광고 문의 · 300×250Trump argued that Israel no longer needs the money and criticized Democrats and left-wing figures for using the aid issue to attack Republicans. Some reports say he named Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. Coming on Election Day, the remarks may be read as political messaging, but his intent has not been confirmed.
Uncertainty over figures and timing
Reports say the US has provided about $3.8 billion a year in military aid under a memorandum of understanding valid through September 2028. Whether Trump's $4 billion refers to that aid has not been confirmed. When and in what form the agreement from ‘months ago’ was reached has not been made public.
The White House and Prime Minister Netanyahu's office reportedly did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment. Israeli opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot said the defense establishment learned of it through the media and argued Netanyahu must step down. Netanyahu reportedly told Israeli TV last month that ‘the US has changed’, suggesting Israel should prepare for losing aid.
The backdrop is a shift in US opinion since the 2023 Gaza war. A June Quinnipiac poll cited in the reports found 48% of voters and 66% of Democrats say the US is too supportive of Israel. Israel held elections on October 27; Netanyahu lost his majority, but the opposition has no clear path to replace him, so coalition talks are expected to be lengthy.