US President Donald Trump in his White House address on Thursday morning said that he is sending a $1,776 Christmas bonus check to US troops. He suggested that the money comes from tariffs and aimed to reassure the public about the state of the economy. “We made a lot more money than anybody thought because of tariffs and the bill helped us along,” he said.
Trump revealed that 1.45 million service members would receive the “warrior dividend before Christmas” and added that the cheques “are already on the way”.
Who is eligible for the ‘Warrior Dividend’ and when will it come?
Trump announced that all active US Army members will get a $1,750 Warrior Dividend. He said the bonus cheques will reach service members’ accounts before Christmas. The army veterans DO NOT qualify this dividend.
The payment is for active-duty and reserve members ranked O-6 or below, who have been on active orders for at least 31 days as of November 30, 2025. The money is expected to be sent through Direct Bank Transfer by December 25.
The announcement is being seen as a strong political move to gain support from the troops amid growing criticism of his policies. Trump presented the cheques as a way to honor the sacrifices of service members.
The programme of issuing cheques to Americans is not something new. During the coronavirus pandemic in Trump’s first term, all US taxpayers received $1,200 as part of a stimulus plan. Later, another $600 cheque was issued, and under President Joe Biden, an additional $2,000 cheque was also sent.
Trump blames Biden for high inflation, economic woes
Trump’s bonus payments for the troops come at a time when millions of Americans are worried about the rising costs of holiday shopping, groceries, housing etc as inflation remains high and the job market weakened in recent months. However, the US President tried to blame the high inflation on his predecessor, Joe Biden.
In 2026, Trump and his party face the midterm elections, which will decide control of the House and Senate, a Reuters report said. His remarks were a chance to boost momentum after Republican losses earlier this year raised doubts about the strength of his support.
Trump used charts to show that the US economy is improving. However, many Americans are likely to see a more mixed picture, the report added. While the stock market is up, gas prices are lower, and tech companies are investing in AI, inflation has risen again after Trump introduced tariffs in April. The consumer price index is now growing at 3% per year, up from 2.3% in April. But the job market is weak.