The Lie

Americans who support military aid to Israel are not “America First” because they prioritize Israel’s interests over America’s, a claim repeatedly made by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA).

The Truth

America’s military aid to Israel directly benefits the U.S.—economically, militarily, and strategically. The $3.8 billion annual investment in Israel returns an estimated $48 billion in value to the U.S.

Background

• On November 12, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) told Megyn Kelly she wants to end all foreign aid—singling out Israel—arguing that doing so is “America First.” She accused those who disagree of being “MIGA” (Make Israel Great Again). 
• There is a growing belief among a segment of the Right that supporting Israel conflicts with America First priorities.

The Truth Explained

• U.S. Aid Structure: The United States provides $3.8 billion annually in military financing to Israel under a Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement requires that 75 percent of those funds must be spent on American-made defense products and services, directly supporting the U.S. economy. (White House)
  
• Military Financing vs. Foreign Aid: Israel receives Foreign Military Financing (FMF), meaning funds are spent on American products and services to strengthen mutual defense and intelligence cooperation with the U.S. It does not receive general foreign aid, such as the roughly $60 billion provided to Ukraine, which primarily supports the country’s domestic budget—paying salaries for teachers, first responders, and other workers—offering minimal direct economic return to the U.S. (White House), (Foreign Policy)
  
• Actionable intelligence from Israel saves the U.S. roughly $2.6 billion annually in economic losses. Former Air Force Intelligence Chief Gen. George Keegan estimated Israel’s intelligence contributions to the U.S. are worth the work of five CIAs—roughly $75 billion in value given the CIA’s annual budget. (Federal Newswire), (New York Times), (BBC)
• The U.S. avoids the cost of maintaining a military presence in Israel, saving at least $2 billion per year in operational expenditures. Military officials like Gen. Alexander Haig and the late Admiral Elmo Zumwalt estimate that without Israel’s presence, the U.S. would need to spend $15–20 billion annually to deploy carriers and ground divisions to protect its Middle East interests. (Federal Newswire), (JNS)
• Israeli joint cybersecurity simulations prevent industrial-scale attacks on American systems, avoiding roughly $100 million annually in losses. (Federal Newswire)

• The U.S. collaborates with Israel on missile systems such as Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow-3. These systems are first field-tested in Israel and then licensed back to the U.S. The Arrow-3 sale to Germany generated $3.5 billion, with up to 50% of the work performed by U.S. contractors. (Reuters), (Boeing)
• Israeli trauma medicine innovations, such as the “Stop the Bleed” initiative, save an estimated 300 U.S. lives annually, with $4.1 billion in societal welfare impact. (Federal Newswire)
• Israel’s high-tech startup ecosystem serves as a key pipeline for U.S. commercial and defense innovation. The Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation funds joint industrial R&D, enabling Israeli and U.S. companies to co-develop technologies. BIRD estimates that these collaborative projects generate approximately $1.2 billion annually for the U.S. economy. (BIRD), (Federal Newswire)
• Israel purchased $14.8 billion in U.S. goods in 2024, contributing $13.2 billion to the U.S. GDP. (US Trade Representative)
• Israelis invest close to $24 billion in the United States, and Israel is home to more than 2,500 U.S. firms. (U.S. Embassy Jerusalem)
• U.S. companies make up roughly two-thirds of the more than 300 foreign-invested research and development centers in Israel. (U.S. Embassy Jerusalem)
• More than $150 billion was invested by Israeli companies in the US between 2010 and 2015 (more than $25.1 billion in 2015 alone). (BESA Center)
• Israel functions as a force and dollar multiplier—a battle-tested R&D hub and showroom for U.S. defense technology. The partnership boosts exports, creates American jobs, and reduces the need for costly U.S. deployments. (The Ettinger Report)

Quotes

“Israel is the largest US aircraft carrier, which does not require American soldiers on board, cannot be sunk, and is deployed in a most critical region, economically and militarily, sparing the US the need to manufacture, deploy and maintain more real aircraft carriers and additional ground divisions, which would cost the US some $15 billion annually.” — General Alexander Haig and Admiral Elmo Zumwalt

”I could not have procured the intelligence . . . with five CIAs,” — General George F. Keegan

Takeaway

The U.S. doesn’t give foreign aid to Israel—it makes a high-return investment in a regional ally that saves American money, resources, and lives. Israel’s strength extends America’s reach and security, making support for Israel one of the “America First” policies Washington maintains.

The Lie: Americans who support military aid to Israel are not America First because they don’t have America’s best interests at heart.

The Truth: America’s military aid to Israel benefits America directly to the estimated tune of $48 billion. Ending such aid isn’t America First—it’s America Only.

Background: On November 12th, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) told Megyn Kelly she demands ending foreign aid to all other countries—singling out Israel—because she is America First, and suggested that anyone who disagrees is MIGA (Make Israel Great Again), not MAGA. This is a common refrain among a faction of the Right.