Donald Trump held an address to the nation from the White House on Wednesday. The president, who once again took a swipe at former President Joe Biden, shares news of a check that will be given out for Christmas to a particular group: military personnel.
In November, Donald Trump shared news that had millions of Americans cheering. After the administration, according to Trump, had brought in “trillions of dollars” in tariff revenue, he promised to give $2,000 to every American.
Exactly when that would be paid out and how was not clear, but experts urged caution regarding the president’s pledge.
After Trump pledged to help Americans economically, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent spoke on ABC News’ This Week with George Stephanopoulos about the $2,000. While he didn’t provide any details, the Treasury Secretary said it might not be a check.
Bessent shared an update last week, saying that working Americans are getting “very large refunfs” of $1,000 to $2,000 per household early next year. However, in his Wednesday chat with the nation from the White House, Trump shared news that some are getting it earlier.
Donald Trump pledge to give members of the US military a $1,776 check
In honor of the country’s founding, Trump announced that members of the United States military will receive a $1,776 check. He called the payment the “Warrior Dividend.”
“1,450,000 military service members will receive a special, we call, warrior dividend before Christmas. A warrior dividend. In honor of our nation’s founding in 1776, we are sending every soldier $1,776,” Trump said in his televised address to the nation, adding that “checks are already on the way.”
The president credited the tariffs for making it possible. But he didn’t provide precise details on how the “Warrior Dividend” initiative will be funded.
“We made a lot more money than anybody thought because of tariffs, and the bill helped us along. Nobody deserves it more than our military, and I say congratulations to everybody,” Trump said.
Per CNN, a senior administration official revealed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed the Pentagon to pay out $2.6 billion as a “one-time basic allowance for housing supplement to all eligible service members in pay grades O-6 and below.”
The official said that roughly 1.28 million Active Component military members, as well as 174,000 Reserve Component military members, will receive the dividend.
“Ongoing commitment to improving the housing and quality of life for our military members”
Congress appropriated $2.9 billion to the Department of War, later rebranded the Department of War, this summer, to supplement the Basic Allowance for Housing.
“This one-time payment exemplifies the Department’s ongoing commitment to improving the housing and quality of life for our military members and their families,” the official told CNN.
The money will come in handy in time for the holidays, as many struggle with inflation. However, that, according to Trump, is still former President Joe Biden’s fault. His 19-minute rant also included criticizing Biden for the problems facing the country at the moment, including pharmaceutical prices, rising immigration, and wage stagnation.
“11 months ago, I inherited a mess, and I’m fixing it. When I took office, inflation was the worst in 48 years, and some would say in the history of our country, which caused prices to be higher than ever before, making life unaffordable for millions and millions of Americans,” Donald Trump claimed.
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