US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, local time, that his administration will issue checks worth $1,776 to members of the US armed forces. He said the payment is meant to honour the country’s founding year, 1776.
Speaking during a national address, Trump said 1.45 million service members will receive the payment before Christmas. He described the move as a special recognition for the military.
“1,450,000 military service members will receive a special, we call, warrior dividend before Christmas,” Trump said, adding, “A warrior dividend, in honor of our nation’s founding in 1776, we are sending every soldier $1,776.”
He said the payments, which he officially named the “Warrior Dividend,” are “already on their way.”
Trump links payout to tariff revenue
Trump claimed that his trade and tariff policies have generated more money than expected for the US government. However, he did not clearly say whether the funds collected through tariffs would directly pay for the military checks.
“We made a lot more money than anybody thought because of tariffs, and the bill helped us along,” Trump said. He added that the armed forces were most deserving of the benefit, saying, “Nobody deserves it more than our military, and I say congratulations to everybody.”
Rare evening address before holidays
The announcement came during a rare evening address ahead of the holiday season. Trump used the speech to present what he described as a progress report on his second term, which began earlier this year.
“Eleven months ago, I inherited a mess, and I’m fixing it,” he said in his opening remarks.
The Republican president, who often says his work is not properly recognised, highlighted achievements across several areas. He pointed to fewer border crossings and lower prices for some goods as examples.
The speech was delivered from the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House rather than the Oval Office, which is more commonly used for presidential addresses.
Focus on economic record
Trump spent a significant part of the address defending his administration’s handling of the economy. He insisted that prices are coming down, even though many Americans remain frustrated about the cost of living.
“In a few short months, we went from worst to best,” Trump said as he listed goods he claimed now cost less than a year ago. He followed this by saying, “I am bringing those high prices down and bringing them down very fast.”
Blames Biden, promises future relief
Trump blamed former President Joe Biden for high inflation. He said his administration is now repairing what he called an economic “mess.”
He also promised more financial relief for Americans in 2026. Trump pointed to new tax provisions passed under Republicans’ “one big beautiful bill” as part of his future plans.