WASHINGTON _ Still angered by the refusal of most nations to support his decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, President Donald Trump said he wants U.S. foreign assistance to go only to America's "friends."
Trump used his State of the Union address to urge Congress to pass legislation that would "help ensure American foreign-assistance dollars always serve American interests, and only go to friends of America."
He repeated a theme he has sounded since the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to condemn Trump's Dec. 6 Jerusalem decision, suggesting he might cut U.S. aid to countries who don't support American actions and policies overseas.
Countries voted "against America's sovereign right" to recognize Jerusalem, Trump said. "American taxpayers generously sent those same countries more the $20 billion" in foreign aid.
Trump's decision on Jerusalem was widely condemned because Palestinians also claim part of the city as their capital, and the status of the divided city was considered a subject for negotiation as part of a final peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.
Trump also said his administration was "restoring clarity about our adversaries" by adding new economic sanctions on Venezuela, North Korea and Iran. The sanctions have not significantly altered government behavior in those countries.
