Trump says US will cut off $4B in aid to Israel, blames bad ‘talking point’

President Trump said on Tuesday that he has reached a deal with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that will end U.S. aid to Israel this year.

Trump said in an interview with “Fox & Friends” that he and Netanyahu made a deal “months ago” for Washington to end its aid to Israel.

“They’re fine with it,” the president said. “They’ve become a very successful country. They don’t need it, and we won’t be paying anymore.”

Trump noted the U.S. would “help” Israel if they need it, noting the Middle Eastern country has been “a great ally.”

The development would mark a major shift in U.S. foreign policy. Israel is considered one of the largest recipients of U.S. foreign aid, which is authorized by Congress.

Netanyahu told CBS News in May that he would like to gradually reduce Israel’s reliance on U.S. military aid over the next 10 years.

“I want to draw down to zero the American financial support, the financial component of the military cooperation that we have. Because we receive $3.8 billion a year. And I think that it’s time that we weaned ourselves from the remaining military support,” Netanyahu said.

“I said, let’s start now and do it over the next decade, over the next 10 years, but I want to start now. I don’t want to wait for the next Congress. I want to start now,” the prime minister said when asked if he had a specific time frame in mind.

Splits over U.S. policy toward Israel, including military aid, have opened in both parties amid the war in Gaza.

Trump’s comments on Tuesday come as voters in the U.S. head to the polls for Election Day.

While affordability is a top concern for voters, the issue of Washington’s support of Israel amid the war in Gaza has influenced some key races, including Michigan’s contentious Senate race.

Trump referred to Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed’s criticism of Israel in the interview on Tuesday.

“Why should we suffer the slings from lunatics like El-Sayed when they don’t need it? It’s a bad talking point,” the president noted.

Polls show that a growing number of Americans say that U.S. aid to Israel should be rolled back or stopped altogether. According to a survey released earlier this month by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, 21 percent of surveyed Americans said U.S. military aid to Israel should be decreased, and 35 percent said it should be ended altogether.