Donald Trump just gave U.S. troops a gift they’ll never forget

Trump loves the U.S. military. He’s proven that throughout his time as president.

And Donald Trump just gave U.S. troops a gift they’ll never forget.

President Trump is once again putting America first by rewarding America’s brave men and women in uniform with a special holiday surprise that’s as patriotic as it gets. In a bold move that’s sure to fire up his supporters, the president announced he’s sending out $1,776 “warrior dividend” checks to every service member just in time for Christmas.

“Military service members will receive a special … warrior dividend before Christmas,” Trump said while addressing the nation on Wednesday. “A warrior dividend in honor of our nation’s founding in 1776, we are sending every soldier $1,776.”

“And the checks are already on the way.”

This initiative comes hot on the heels of the Senate passing the National Defense Authorization Act, which Trump now has on his desk.

That bill includes a solid 3.8% pay raise for troops, but the president is going above and beyond with these extra funds. Questions linger about the exact legal pathway for these payouts, but Trump’s track record shows he’s not one to let bureaucracy stand in the way of supporting the military.

With around 1.45 million active-duty personnel across the branches, this warrior dividend program is set to total roughly $2.6 billion. That’s a hefty sum, but in Trump’s view, it’s money well spent on those who defend our freedoms every day. He made it clear that these bonuses stem from the massive revenues generated by his tough tariff policies.

“We made a lot more money than anybody thought because of tariffs,” he said. “Nobody deserves it more than our military, and I say congratulations to everybody.”

Even as the Supreme Court eyes some of those tariffs with doubt over their legal basis, Trump isn’t backing down. His administration has used these trade measures to rake in money, turning potential economic weapons against foreign adversaries into benefits for everyday Americans—starting with U.S. soldiers.

Looking ahead, the president has hinted at expanding this dividend idea to hardworking families. He’s floated the concept of $2,000 checks for households under a certain income threshold, all funded by the same tariff windfall. While that plan might hit roadblocks in Congress or the courts, it’s classic Trump: fighting for forgotten men and women.

Interestingly, Trump kept the family dividend talk out of his Wednesday night speech, focusing instead on the immediate boost for the military.

As inflation bites and living costs soar, Trump is doubling down on his affordability agenda to counter the left’s narrative. Democrats rode high in last month’s off-year elections by hammering on economic hardships, stoking Republican worries about a tough midterm fight in 2026.

But Trump isn’t letting them own the issue. In his address, he hammered home his successes in tackling these challenges, while slamming the opposition for their failures.

“Eleven months ago, I inherited a mess, and I’m fixing it,” Trump said during his speech.

Tying it all together, Trump highlighted the upcoming 250th anniversary of America’s founding as a perfect backdrop for the country’s comeback story.

“We’re poised for an economic boom the likes of which the world has never seen,” Trump stated.

“Soon, we will host the World Cup and the Olympics, both of which I got, but most importantly, we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.”

“There could be no more fitting tribute to this epic milestone than to complete the comeback of America that began just one year ago,” the president said.

“We are respected again like we have never been respected before. Each and every one of you, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. God bless you all!”