President Trump told CBS’s 60 Minutes that countries the US protected will repay the Iran war bill, with Israel named in the same answer.
Tamrah News Desk | November 9, 2026
Trump Israel war costs became a major talking point on Sunday after President Donald Trump told CBS’s 60 Minutes that Israel will have to repay the United States for the Iran war. The CBS News transcript shows Trump said the countries America protected would repay the war expenses, and that Israel would not exist without the US. He said they would
“pay us back any and all costs that we’ve had for the war.”
The interview with correspondent Ross Douthat was taped at the White House on Friday, according to CNN. It was Trump’s first in depth television interview since the Republican midterm losses.
Trump Israel War Costs: What the President Said
In the transcript posted by Roll Call, Trump said
“we’re gonna get all that money back”
and claimed he had already told the countries involved they would pay. Israel National News reported that he tied Israel’s survival to his order for B2 bomber strikes on Iranian nuclear sites more than a year ago. Trump spoke of “those countries” in the plural before turning to Israel. The transcript excerpts reviewed by Tamrah News gave no dollar figure and no repayment timetable.
How Much Has the Iran War Cost the United States?
The Pentagon told Congress that the war had cost at least $47.1 billion as of October 16, according to Al Jazeera, which cited figures shared with The New York Times. Al Monitor reported that nearly $30 billion of that total went on munitions, and that the estimate excludes repairs to damaged bases. CBS News reported that the Congressional Budget Office estimated the war could cost roughly $2 billion to $3 billion a month while it continues. Estimates have risen steadily since the war began in February.
Will Israel Really Have to Pay the US Back?
Neither government has published a repayment plan in the coverage reviewed. At the time of writing, Tamrah News had not found a formal response from Israel’s government to the repayment remark. Al Jazeera reported in March that White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Trump was considering asking Arab countries to cover the war’s cost. Trump’s latest comments leave open which countries he means and how any payment would work.
US Military Aid to Israel and the Year End Announcement
The remarks follow a separate announcement on aid. ABC News reported on November 3 that Trump said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed months ago to end about $4 billion in annual military aid by the end of this year. According to the Times of Israel, Netanyahu’s office did not deny the announcement and said the relationship was moving from aid to partnership. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported that former Prime Minister Yair Lapid called the decision one of the most severe failures in the state’s history. Al Jazeera quoted an analyst who said a full cutoff by the end of 2026 is unlikely because Congress appropriates the money.
Midterm Losses and Political Fallout
Deadline reported that Trump said voters disliked the war, higher gas prices and Israel. RedState reported that he said he did not disagree with a social media post from Vice President JD Vance blaming the war for the defeat. GB News reported that Republicans lost both the House and the Senate, and that Trump said he is not looking to escalate the war. The same outlet reported that Trump insisted the Strait of Hormuz is open, although the few ships passing through are escorted by the US Navy.
Visit Democrats Win Senate Majority as Texas, Ohio and Maine Flip in 2026 Midterms and wider politics category for prior coverage.
Where the Iran War and Talks Stand Now
CBS News reported that officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan held talks in Tehran to stop the fighting from restarting, after the US, Iran and Israel each warned hostilities could resume. The same live coverage put oil prices near $116 a barrel. No peace settlement has been announced.
Conclusion
Trump Israel war costs are now tied to three live issues: a Pentagon bill of at least $47.1 billion, the planned end of US military aid to Israel, and the political damage from the midterms. The president has made a firm claim, but no repayment plan has been published and Israel’s government has not confirmed one. Readers following the Iran war cost, US military aid to Israel, the Trump 60 Minutes interview, Netanyahu’s response, Pentagon war spending and the Strait of Hormuz should watch for official statements from Washington and Jerusalem in the coming days.
