President Donald Trump addressed the nation Wednesday night and announced a new “Warrior Dividend” payment for active-duty military personnel that will be distributed before Christmas. 1.45 million service members will receive $1,776 each, in honor of the nation’s 250th birthday next July.
“We are sending every soldier $1,776. Think of that,” Trump said. “And the checks are already on their way. Nobody understood that one until about 30 minutes ago. We made a lot more money than anyone thought because of tariffs, and the [One Big Beautiful Bill] helped us along. Nobody deserves it more than our military, and I say congratulations to everybody.”
The White House released a statement explaining that “active-duty service members in the pay grades O-6 and below and on active-duty as of November 30, 2025, as well as reserve component members on active-duty orders of 31 days or more as of November 30, 2025, are eligible” for the payment.
The announcement received positive coverage across the political aisle. Left-wing CNN commentator Van Jones even praised the payment for troops. “One good thing was he’s going to give money to soldiers,” Jones said.
Republican Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming also praised Trump’s announcement for significantly benefiting men and women in uniform.
“I was overseas at Ramstein Air Force Base for Thanksgiving. I go every year to visit overseas Wyoming troops for Thanksgiving. This is going to go over very well with the 1.4 million men and women in uniform,” Barrasso said.
Trump also touted the success of his first year during the address. Since the President’s return to office, gasoline prices have decreased by 6.9 percent, hotel rates have dropped by 5.1 percent, and airfare has dropped by 2.9 percent. In comparison, during the Biden administration, hotel rates jumped by 37.4 percent, gasoline increased by 30.7 percent, and airfare increased by 31.7 percent.
Real wages are also expected to grow by more than $1,000 by the end of Trump’s first full year in office, partially offsetting the $3,000 decline in real wages under Joe Biden.
One of the President’s biggest achievements has been halting virtually all illegal immigration across the southern border. He called out Joe Biden and his administration for allowing a border crisis to occur in the first place.
“Starting on day one, I took immediate action to stop the invasion of our southern border,” Trump said. “For the past seven months, zero illegal aliens have been allowed into our country – a feat which everyone said was absolutely impossible. Do you remember when Joe Biden said that he needed Congress to pass legislation to help close the border? He was always blaming Congress and everyone else. As it turned out, we didn’t need legislation. We just needed a new president.”
Trump also praised his administration’s work in eliminating crime in major cities, drastically reducing the flow of drugs into the country, ending woke policies in schools, and bringing peace between Israel and Gaza.
“Tonight after 11 months, our border is secure, inflation is stopped, wages are up, prices are down, our nation is strong, America is respected, and our country is back stronger than ever before,” Trump said. “We’re poised for an economic boom the likes of which the world has never seen.”
From a political standpoint, Trump’s speech set the stage for Republican messaging heading into the midterm year in 2026. Democrats and the corporate media have fixated on affordability and cost-of-living concerns as a potential midterm message, hoping to beat the GOP on the economy.
But as Trump reminded the country Wednesday night, it was Democrats who created the affordability crisis in the first place. Moreover, key metrics show that congressional Republicans and the White House have made major progress in reversing the damage done during the Biden era and setting the country on a path to prosperity.
Alan Jamison is the pen name of a political writer with extensive experience writing for several notable politicians and news outlets.
Excellent idea to give our active-duty military personnel a $1,776 bonus. Nobody deserves it more.
And cutting off immigration at the Southern border is a long overdue accomplishment that seemed to flummox the Biden administration for years.
Still much work to be done in the New Year.
Inflation is still chugging along at 3% and healthcare costs, OUCH !!….(starting next month, the increase in my Medicare premiums is more than double my increase in Social Security).
I hope that when we get to the State of the Union address, we will hear more about what he plans to do in 2026 including tariffs and foreign policy and hear less: Trump GOOD / Biden BAD. That old chestnut is not going to sway many voters come next year’s mid-terms.
Democrats intentionally destroyed–and continue to try to destroy–our country. Thank God for President Trump and those who support him!
Watched the address. It was short and sweet. President Trump needs to learn from this successful address: When it comes to words, less is more. He used 16 minutes to get his message across. Unfortunately, many people didn’t see his address. I almost didn’t because I have been put off lately by his constant haranguing about everything. Hopefully someone has told him this. He is a great President but he sometimes has a sarcastic delivery and it irritates people. I don’t think I am the only one who thinks this.
Great idea, Mr. Trump! Now, if you want to blow the minds of the DIMMwits, give the ICE agents a large bonus as well!
I was hoping that President Trump would announce the $2000 tariff dividend for Americans, but our military men and women deserve their warrior dividends FAR MORE than I deserve a check. WELL DONE, MR. PRESIDENT!!!! MAGA!!!!
Agree with his Military Bonuses. Disappointing that he’s done nothing to help “old folks” Social Security. Based on the projected 2.6 increase in 2926, it means about $250.00 max to increase what we get. Yet the “Significant Increase in our Meducare A & B will equate to “over 10% increase which means the COLA Increase means very little in helping Seniors retain “any money to live on”!! “Where’s the Focus on this”? GIVE US A BREAK, WHATEVER HAPPENED TO STOPPING TAXES ON OUR BENEFITS WE RECEIVE, WHICH WE HAVE BEEN TAXED ON OUR ENTIRE WORKING CAREERS TO GET TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY???
Glad the troops are finally getting something if you call it that not sure if it includes veterans hiping up the economy while I’m still paying double for stuff is not far fetched gas is still up in Kentucky not sure about other places one has to wonder what a few trillion would do here at home instead of over seas I’m still driving and dodging pot holes every day I could write a book on things Americans truly need but I’ll just post few more opinions here and there while I’m still allowed not sure what base politicians think there reaching but I don’t seem to be part of it
Wow, I do admire how President Trump gets things done. Look forward to more accomplishments in the next years. He knows that it wasn’t really Biden, but the people who ran things for Biden who did the most damage. We need to think about preserving the good things he is doing on our behalf.
Congratulations troops. So well deserved!!!! Happy holidays to all. A huge TY to Pres. Trump
The only US Pres. who is truly appreciative and grateful to our military not just in words but in deeds. Bless you Pres. Trump for your service and love for our country. No wonder God has chosen you to do HIS mandate for World Peace and our economic survival.
It was direct and to the point without a bunch of flowery garbage. Like sergeant Joe Friday, ” Just the Facts” If you remember him from Dragnet!
Awesome short speech Hooray
Other than about 30cents a gallon, I am not seeing lower prices on anything.
WAY TO GO, DJT! An extra dollar or two for the troops. Whodathunkit? And just think: without ol’ Joe, the present POTUS would not have all that much to do….
FJB.
And the military hating progressives are most likely going bananas over this happening. Ever notice how badly they behave towards our military and, yet, are the first to scream out when our military is needed. Same attitude that they have when it comes to our law enforcement personnel.
It takes time for prices to lower, once you lower fuel prices. From the farmer to the market it will begin to drop. Product shipping will also drop, but it takes a few months for the ball to start rolling.
That’s great, however those in the Guard deployed numerous times to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kenya and other hotspots across the world. They should not be marginalized.
I agree it is a good political move to help our troops but where is Trump getting all this money , after getting Musk to fire a lot of federal employees. And last week, trump raised pensions of MOH troops. How much is Trump going to give to the NG troops that were wounded or killed in DC last month? What is going on, only time will tell with DT./
There are DEMORATS and Fake News media scum who were instantly outraged and totally against this abuse and misuse of taxpayer funds. They said it could be used for a much better purpose – to give to all the starving Samalis in MN and all the illegals in Sanctuary cities and States across the country.
I’m glad to hear this, but really don’t like the AI voice as a narrator.
Good gosh, Give all serving members a boost/bonus. My Dad was in the Guard in the late 1940’s but didn’t get called up for Korea. He let his enlistment elapse as he loved my mother so much! Got out before Korea and established a business and a family and married my mom in 1950. I didn’t come around until ’56 though my mom explained the “facts of life” when I was young and I wanted to go the scientific route and she had two miscarriages before I was born. A boy and a girl. They died but it set me to thinking I could have had an older brother and sister back in the day. Maybe my younger brother or sister wouldn’t haven’t come along if she didn’t miscarry but that is the way life goes. We had a great family anyways with me, my younger brother and 10 years younger sister!!
Trump hit another low with his comments and rave about murders of Rob Reinier and wife. And he said Rob had Trump deranged syndrome . Trump wanted Social so he could say whatever he wants, & the entire world sees his rants. I am still very disappointed in how he handled death of an American hero Senator John McCain.
What about sailors and airmen?