Responsible Statecraft has reported:

President Donald Trump said he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed to end U.S. aid to Israel by the end of 2026, announcing the plan during a Tuesday morning appearance on FOX News’ “Fox & Friends.” Trump described the funding as “$4 billion a year.” The current annual aid package is $3.8 billion and does not expire until 2028.

The announcement was the first public indication of such an agreement, according to Responsible Statecraft. Netanyahu has previously said he wanted a new Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU, to allocate annual funds until they tapered off at the end of “10 years.” The Israeli prime minister is also facing a live leadership challenge that could cost him his position.

Trump said the issue had become part of the U.S. election campaign. “Why should we suffer the slings from lunatics like an El-Sayed when (Israel) don't need (the aid)?” he said, referring to Abdul El-Sayed, a candidate for the U.S. Senate in Michigan.

The report suggested Trump could be seeking to reassure Republican voters that his party is not bound to support Israel, as some on his right flank have alleged. Republican disapproval of Israel has been rising, particularly over the Iran war, which the article said has undermined confidence in Trump’s ability to manage the economy. Announcing a break with Israel, even if it concerned only the MOU, would be a major departure from the usual approach, the report said.

Another possible motive raised in the article is pressure on Netanyahu during his political fight. Trump’s backing has benefited Netanyahu in past elections, while the sudden loss of guaranteed annual military funding could be damaging as Israel fights on multiple fronts and faces economic strain. Security concerns span Israeli voting constituencies, and reduced confidence could affect negotiations over forming a Likud-led governing coalition.

The report also questioned whether the announcement would change how the aid is delivered. Responsible Statecraft and the Quincy Institute have written about efforts by Israel and its supporters in Washington to move assistance away from the MOU framework and into Pentagon contracting. Under legislation known as Section 219, Congress is seeking to establish a new structure to advance U.S.-Israel defence technology co-operation.

The proposed framework would cover technology sharing, weapons systems co-production and bilateral research and development in areas including biotechnology, autonomous systems, artificial intelligence and cyberwarfare. A designated executive agent would oversee the relationship, which the article said would leave less room for Pentagon and congressional oversight. It argued that billions could still reach Israel through the arrangement, with less public scrutiny, while potentially putting U.S. military and national security at risk.

Joe Kent, who resigned from the Trump administration in March over the Iran war and what he described as Israel’s influence in it, criticized Section 219 after Trump’s announcement. “If POTUS is genuinely serious about cutting off aid to Israel, he must demand that Congress remove all proposed programs that will give the Israeli defense & intelligence apparatuses unfettered access to our own defense & intelligence R&D,” Kent posted. “Protect American interests, put Americans first.”

The article characterized Trump’s announcement as desperate political messaging. It said that if Trump and Netanyahu have in fact agreed to end the aid, Congress should still challenge Section 219 when it is brought forward again after the elections.