““The president appeared to be referring to annual US military aid to Israel, which amounts to just less than $4 billion a year under a deal made under former President Barack Obama in 2016. That arrangement is due to run through the end of 2028.” — CNN analysis by Stephen Collinson, Nov. 3, 2026”
The claim: ““The president appeared to be referring to annual US military aid to Israel, which amounts to just less than $4 billion a year under a deal made under former President Barack Obama in 2016. That arrangement is due to run through the end of 2028.” — CNN analysis by Stephen Collinson, Nov. 3, 2026”
Why we rated it this way: The 2016 memorandum of understanding pledges $38 billion over fiscal years 2019 through 2028, which the Congressional Research Service breaks down as $3.3 billion a year in Foreign Military Financing plus $500 million a year for missile defense, or $3.8 billion annually. That matches CNN's “just less than $4 billion a year” and the 2016 Obama-era origin. One nuance: the deal ends with fiscal 2028, which closes Sept. 30, 2028, and each year's money still depends on congressional appropriations.
See the evidenceWhat would change our rating: A newly published U.S.-Israel agreement or appropriations law ending or changing the MOU's funding before fiscal 2028 would add Missing context; records showing a different annual amount would move it to Contradicted.
Our read
The 2016 memorandum of understanding pledges $38 billion over fiscal years 2019 through 2028, which the Congressional Research Service breaks down as $3.3 billion a year in Foreign Military Financing plus $500 million a year for missile defense, or $3.8 billion annually. That matches CNN's “just less than $4 billion a year” and the 2016 Obama-era origin. One nuance: the deal ends with fiscal 2028, which closes Sept. 30, 2028, and each year's money still depends on congressional appropriations.
Broadcast
Picture to come
Nov 3, 2026, 5:45 PM CST
Sources
- CNN, Stephen Collinson, “Trump’s Election Day bombshell on Israel points to historic shift in US politics,” November 3, 2026
- The White House (Obama archive), “FACT SHEET: Memorandum of Understanding Reached with Israel,” September 14, 2016
- Congressional Research Service, “U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel: Overview and Developments since October 7, 2023” (RL33222)
Script
Narration script. If a face or a voice delivers this, the anchor is synthetic.
Evening Check. CNN says U.S. military aid to Israel is just under four billion dollars a year under a 2016 deal that runs through 2028. The signed agreement pledges thirty-eight billion over fiscal 2019 through 2028, about three point eight billion a year. Verdict: matches the record.
Corrections
None on file.