US midterms: Not even Trump's Israel aid stunt could rescue the Republicans

In the 2026 US midterms, Donald Trump's attempt to stop providing $4 billion in annual military aid to Israel failed to rescue the Republican party. Despite Trump's announcement on election day, polling data showed that a majority of American voters, including Republicans under 30, believed Washington provided Israel too much aid.

Even within the Republican party, 54% of those under 30 agreed. By declaring the aid cut, Trump hoped to turn a negative talking point into a positive for the party. However, this stunt did not work. The midterms saw Democrats gain control of both chambers of Congress, flipping at least seven Republican-held Senate seats and winning important governorships, including in Texas.

The election results highlighted broader American concerns beyond Israel, including the economy, the war on Iran, democracy, immigration policy, and racism. Experts noted that Trump's claim about aid cuts was misleading, as the $4 billion represented only a small portion of the overall military support the US provided to Israel.

Additionally, a 2016 agreement between the US and Israel committed to $21.7 billion in military aid over the next two years, and $38 billion in total over ten years. Furthermore, the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) included a provision for deeper military cooperation between the US and Israel, suggesting a move towards greater interdependence.

These factors likely contributed to the failure of Trump's stunt to rescue the Republicans in the midterms.