WASHINGTON — In a sharp warning that highlights growing strains in the U.S.–Israel relationship, President Donald Trump told Time magazine that Israel would lose “all of its support” from the United States if it moves to annex parts of the occupied West Bank. During a recorded interview on October 15, Trump insisted that he had given assurances to Arab states and that annexation would contradict those commitments: “It won’t happen … Israel would lose all of its support from the United States if that happened.”
The comments come against the backdrop of an Israeli Knesset preliminary vote advancing bills to extend sovereignty over West Bank settlements—measures widely viewed as steps toward annexation. Trump’s warning marks his most forceful statement yet on what he regards as a red line Israel must not cross.
The reaction in Israel was swift. Some right-wing lawmakers pushed ahead with annexation efforts, citing ideological and security rationales, while others—especially those wary of losing U.S. backing—appeared more cautious. Meanwhile, Trump’s deputy, J.D. Vance, publicly criticized the Knesset vote as a “very stupid political stunt” and said it had offended him personally—reinforcing the tone of U.S. displeasure.
Trump has previously maintained pro-Israel stances, including recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and support for the Abraham Accords. But in this instance, he framed annexation as a deal-breaker: he said it would undercut Arab support and betray assurances his administration gave to regional partners. How Israel’s government responds to the threat—and whether Trump would actually withhold support in practice—remains to be seen, but the ultimatum signals a major recalibration in Washington’s tolerance for unilateral territorial expansion.
