United States President Donald Trump has announced that about 1.45 million US military service members will receive a one-time “warrior dividend” payment of $1,776 before Christmas. Trump said the bonus was chosen to reflect the year the United States was founded, ahead of its 250th anniversary in 2026.
The announcement was made during a televised national address on Thursday night, where Trump said the payments would be funded through tariff revenues. He also blamed former President Joe Biden for high prices that have affected his approval ratings, while defending his tariff policies as beneficial to the economy.
Trump said tariffs were strengthening domestic manufacturing, attracting investment, and helping to fund the military payouts, even as economists warn they raise consumer costs. “We are poised for an economic boom the likes of which the world has never seen,” he said, also referencing the 2026 FIFA World Cup.