Trump admin aims to maintain Israel aid in coming years, despite US president’s claim otherwise

The Trump administration plans to continue security assistance to Israel despite Trump's claim that aid would end in 2026, according to US and Israeli officials. Negotiations for a new MoU are ongoing, with proposals to phase out aid over 5-10 years. The current $38 billion MoU expires in 2028, and Democrats in Congress may push for restrictions on offensive weapons.

The Trump administration plans to continue providing security assistance to Israel in the coming years, despite President Donald Trump's claim on November 3 that Washington would cease aid by the end of 2026, according to three US and Israeli officials. The US and Israel have been negotiating a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) that would wind down aid from its current annual rate of nearly $4 billion, with proposals including a complete phase-out within five to ten years. No agreement has been reached, and Trump's comments have pushed Washington to accelerate the wind-down. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously spoken about ending aid gradually over ten years. Both sides frame the move as reflecting Israel's economic strength, but it also comes amid declining bipartisan support for Israel in the US. The current 10-year, $38 billion MoU from the Obama era expires in 2028, and officials say it will be honored as much as possible. However, Democrats, now controlling Congress, may push for restrictions on offensive weapons and conditions barring use in violations of international law. The State Department stated that Israel is a wealthy ally that will soon not require US funding, and the partnership will shift to a mutually beneficial one based on Israeli purchases of American weapons.