US
President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu shake during then visit to the Israel museum in
Jerusalem, Tuesday, May 23, 2017.
AP
Photo/Sebastian Scheiner
In President Donald Trump's first State of the Union
address, he asked Congress to help pass legislation ensuring US
aid serves "American interests," and would be prioritized
for "friends of America."
Trump also lauded his December decision to recognize
Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and criticized countries
that rejected the move at the United Nations.
The White House announced its plans to cut
foreign aid in its 2018 budget proposal.
The US has since cut hundreds of millions in foreign
assistance.
In US President Donald Trump's first State of the Union address
on Tuesday, he called on congress to pass legislation that would
ensure US aid would be prioritized in favor of what he called
"America's friends."
"I am asking Congress to pass legislation to help ensure
American foreign assistance dollars always serve American
interests and only go to friends of America, not enemies of
America," Trump said.
Trump also lauded his December decision to
recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel,
Trump added that dozens of countries
voted against his Jerusalem decision at the United
Nations.
"In 2016, American taxpayers generously sent those same
countries more than $20 billion in aid," Trump
claimed.
Trump added that while the US was strengthening its
"friendships" around the world, it was also "restoring clarity"
on entities the US considers "adversaries."
The White House pitched its plans to make heavy cuts to
foreign aid in its
2018 budget proposal. In line with Trump's "America
First" policy, the White House stated it would focus on
"returning more American dollars home and ensuring foreign aid
supports American interests and values."
The US has reportedly
threatened to make cuts to United Nations programs by up
to 50%, and Trump reiterated the notion in December when he
threatened to cut finances to UN member states who voted
against his Jerusalem decision.
In the last month, Trump has made firm on his promises to
slash foreign aid to countries and aid groups that
were deemed unfavorable.
The US announced it was withholding
$255 million in aid to Pakistan following a
series of tweets from the president of which he accused
the country of providing "safe haven" to terrorists.
Two weeks later, the US announced it would
suspend $65 million in aid to UNRWA, a United Nations
group that provides relief and education services to Palestinian
refugees. Trump had
previously threatened to withhold aid from the group if the
Palestinians
continue to refuse to negotiate a US-brokered peace deal.
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