El-Sayed Supports Trump Plan to End $4 Billion Israel Aid

Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed said he supports President Donald Trump's plan to terminate military aid to Israel, a move that would end approximately $4 billion in annual funding by December 2026.

El-Sayed, who defeated Republican Mike Rogers on Tuesday, went further than the president in a Wednesday interview with NPR. He argued that the United States should also halt the sale of weapons to Israel, citing what he described as the use of those arms in genocide and apartheid.

The proposal follows a deal Trump disclosed on Tuesday, stating that he had reached an agreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu several months ago. Under the plan, Israel would stop receiving direct aid but would retain the ability to purchase American weapons and request assistance if needed.

Trump told Fox & Friends that Netanyahu initially proposed ending the assistance. The president quoted the Israeli leader as saying, "I think it would be appropriate if we do not receive aid." Trump maintained that the strategic partnership between the two nations remains strong despite the financial shift.

The current US-Israel military assistance agreement provides $3.8 billion annually through fiscal year 2028. The new proposal creates uncertainty about how the administration will implement the cuts, as the specifics of the agreement are not yet public.

El-Sayed also called for a review of US military support for Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Pakistan. He stated that taxpayer dollars would be better spent on domestic needs rather than foreign military assistance, a stance that defined his campaign.

The Michigan Democrat had previously clashed with Democratic Representative Haley Stevens over this issue. Stevens withdrew her endorsement in the primary to back Rogers, making the aid policy a central point of contention in the race.