U.S. Military Aid to Israel: Trump Cutoff Claim Meets Conflicting Timelines

Update, Nov. 10

At the G7 foreign ministers meeting in Paris, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Trump "would like for the financing portion to end as soon as possible," and that Israel can "absolutely" get off U.S. military aid by the end of this year if it wants to, the Times of Israel reported.

Ynet reports an emerging memorandum of understanding under which annual Foreign Military Financing would stay near $3.3 billion a year through 2028, then continue at that level for five more years (about $16.5 billion, compared with a $33 billion successor package), after which direct aid would end. Missile-defense funding would rise. Israeli officials want the MOU signed before January, when the new Congress takes office, Ynet reported.

Those accounts are not the same timeline. AFNS is presenting them side by side; they are not reconciled in the public reporting reviewed for this update.

Update, Nov. 9 — Conflicting accounts

Conflicting accounts of how and when U.S. military financing for Israel ends:

Rubio (Jerusalem Post): Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Israel is now "prosperous and rich enough" to buy U.S. weapons without U.S. financing, that "it's something the Israelis themselves have offered us," and that a 2027 start matches "what the president said we're going to do" (Jerusalem Post).

Ynet: An emerging security memorandum would not end aid this year. Under Ynet's account, current assistance runs through 2028, then roughly $3.3 billion a year in Foreign Military Financing would continue for five years (about $16.5 billion total) before direct military aid ends — roughly halving a prior 10-year-style package total. Joint missile-defense funding may rise. Negotiators aim to finalize before the new Congress in January (Ynet).

AFNS presents both accounts side by side. They are not reconciled in public reporting reviewed for this update.

Update, Nov. 9

On CBS 60 Minutes (interview aired Sunday, Nov. 8), President Trump said countries the United States protected in the Iran war "are going to pay us back any and all costs that we've had for the war" because "without us, they wouldn't exist. Without us, Israel would not exist." He added that "Israel would not exist except for Donald Trump" and credited B-2 strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. The interview does not state an amount, a repayment schedule, or evidence of a signed agreement. Quotes verified against the CBS 60 Minutes transcript.

On the midterms, Trump said voters "didn't like the war," "didn't like the fact that gasoline went up," and that there is "a great dislike, incredibly, for Israel." Asked whether he would escalate the Iran war now that the midterms are over, he said: "Well, I'm not looking to. I don't think there's any reason to."

Separately (not the 60 Minutes sit-down), Trump told reporters that Gadi Eisenkot and Benjamin Netanyahu are "very similar in terms of their policy and their view" and "have very similar views" (Jerusalem Post, Ynet, Times of Israel).

Update, Nov. 6

Netanyahu's office gave its first response to Trump's plan to end roughly $4 billion a year in U.S. military aid, framing it as a shift "from aid to partnership" and mutual investment, the Jerusalem Post and an Israeli embassy newsletter report. The PMO says Netanyahu has been working with Trump on the transition, that Israel can still buy U.S. weapons, and that Israel could get extra help if needed.

Update, Nov. 4

Reuters reports that on Election Day, President Trump said he had agreed with Prime Minister Netanyahu to end the aid after 2026 while weapons sales continue, and that Israel no longer needs U.S. financial support. Reuters notes that the current agreement, known as an MOU, provides $3.8 billion a year through 2028; Haaretz and others cited roughly $4 billion. Reuters says Trump framed the move partly as removing a "bad talking point" that left-wing Democrats had been using.

Update, Nov. 3, 11 AM CT

Weapons sales to continue. Trump told Fox News on Tuesday that Israel will still be able to buy U.S. weapons even as the roughly $4 billion a year in direct aid ends. "They can buy whatever they want," he said (Fox News). AP reports Trump said the U.S. will stop the aid in 2027 but will sell arms to Israel (AP).

The original report follows.

Status: Trump remarks reported by Haaretz/Reuters/AP; PMO response now reported by the Jerusalem Post. Early Haaretz coverage noted no PMO reply at the time; see the Nov. 6 update above.

What Haaretz reports

President Trump said the roughly $4 billion a year in direct U.S. military aid to Israel will end by the end of this year, Haaretz reports (Haaretz on X; see also Real America's Voice on X).

According to Haaretz, Trump said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to it. "He's very understanding of it," Trump said, as reported by Haaretz.

Netanyahu's office had not responded as of the report.

What the reporting does not say

Viral posts claim the U.S. will end all assistance to Israel. The reporting does not back that up. Haaretz's report concerns direct U.S. military aid of roughly $4 billion a year.

Related

• U.S. Officials: Limited 'Defensive' Strikes Hit Iranian Missiles on Qeshm Island
• Opposition Leaders Back Eisenkot for First Mandate as Results Fight Continues