Trump Ends $3.8B Annual U.S. Aid to Israel on Midterm Election Day

Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he will end $3.8 billion in annual U.S. aid to Israel, a surprise move made on the day of the U.S. midterm elections. The announcement comes as Israel's recent legislative elections left neither Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc nor rival Gadi Eisenkot's with a majority. Eisenkot said Trump's decision proves Netanyahu "must go," citing the Israeli defense establishment learning of the change through media as evidence of dangerous leadership. The aid package totals $38 billion over ten years, including $33 billion for weapons and $5 billion for missile defense. Netanyahu had previously expressed desire to reduce this support to zero. The timing coincides with U.S.-Iran tensions and a contentious debate over Israel's Gaza offensive, with Trump referencing Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan as motivation.