President Donald Trump has said the United States is cutting off $4 billion in aid to Israel at the end of the year because “they don’t need it.”

Mr Trump, who stated this in an interview with Fox News on Tuesday, said, “Now, as far as paying Israel, Bibi Netanyahu and ​I have made a deal that we give Israel $4 billion a year, and we made ​a deal months ago that we’re stopping.

“We’ve ⁠already agreed that by the end of this year we won’t be paying Israel. Now we’ll ​help Israel if they need it.”

Mr Trump alleged that some Democrats and left-wing politicians were using the U.S. financial support to Israel as a talking point to criticize Republicans.

He added, “It’s a bad talking point because when you say, ‘Why don’t we give everybody $4 billion?’ Israel’s our number one; we give them more than anybody else, and they no longer need it.

“We’ve ⁠already agreed that by the end of this year we won’t be paying Israel. Now we’ll ​help Israel if they need it.”

​It was unclear which exact funding Mr Trump meant. 

The announcement came as memorandum of understanding allowing the U.S. to provide $3.8 billion annually in military aid to Israel was expected to expire in 2028.

Mr Trump noted, “They can buy whatever they want. They can buy whatever ​they want. So can Europe. We make the greatest weapons in the world.”

The U.S. decision to discontinue the aid came months after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke about the need to end U.S. support to Israel in May.

Meanwhile, Democratic candidates, including Abdul El-Sayed, have been critical of Israel due to the humanitarian toll arising from the Gaza war, objecting unconditional U.S. military aid and others.