President Donald Trump, in a uncommon televised primetime deal with to the nation on Wednesday night time, introduced a plan to ship greater than one million members of the U.S. navy $1,776 as a “warrior dividend.”
“Due to tariffs, together with the just-passed ‘One Large Stunning Invoice,’ tonight I’m additionally proud to announce that greater than …1,450,000 navy service members will obtain a particular warrior dividend earlier than Christmas,” Trump stated in his deal with from the White Home Diplomatic Reception Room.
“And the checks are already within the mail,” he stated.
Trump started his speech by blasting his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, saying that “I inherited a large number” when he returned to the White Home final January.
“And I’m fixing it,” he stated.
Trump highlighted his administration’s efforts to seal the Southern border, convey down prices, and strengthen U.S. overseas coverage.
“Our nation was able to fail, completely fail. Now we are the hottest nation anyplace on the planet,” Trump stated.
US President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White Home in Washington, DC, on December 17, 2025.
Doug Mills | Afp | Getty Pictures
The deal with got here as Trump’s approval scores are sagging throughout the board, on points starting from immigration to inflation, and as Republicans search to carry on to majorities within the Home and Senate within the 2026 midterm elections.
“We’re bringing our financial system again from the brink of damage,” Trump stated in the course of the deal with.
However the financial system, as soon as a promoting level for the president, has change into a vulnerability as his sweeping tariffs have prompted uncertainty and led to elevated prices for some shoppers and companies.
Trump lately referred to as rising issues about affordability a “Democratic hoax” and, in a Politico podcast this month, gave the financial system a grade of “A plus plus plus plus plus.”
In the meantime, in response to CNBC’s All-America Financial Survey, 66% of Individuals polled this month disapproved of Trump’s dealing with of inflation, which is ticking up. In April, his disapproval fee on inflation was at 60%. Trump’s financial approval score is 36% and his general approval score is simply 38%, in response to a Marist ballot launched on Wednesday.
Democrats have sought to hammer Trump on the financial system.
A bunch of Senate Democrats on Wednesday held a press convention on affordability.
“Prices are skyrocketing, and Democrats in 2026, you may be listening to from us about prices over and over and over,” Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., stated. “Quite the opposite, Donald Trump tonight goes to attempt to speak about his accomplishments, however it will be a really brief speech.”
Through the deal with, Trump projected “the most important tax refund season of all time” because of the tax and spending bundle he signed into regulation over the summer season.
The president additionally highlighted his overseas coverage successes, making the questionable declare that he has ended eight wars since taking workplace and pointing to his aggressive posture towards Venezuela.
“Medicine introduced in by ocean and by sea at the moment are down 94%,” Trump stated.
Starting in September, the Trump administration started hanging alleged drug boats within the Jap Pacific and the Caribbean. Trump claimed in October with out proof that every of the boats is “accountable for the dying of 25,000 American individuals, and the destruction of households.”
As Trump’s speech was about to start, the U.S. Southern Command introduced on X that it had carried out a strike on a vessel within the Jap Pacific that was “engaged in narco-trafficking operations.” 4 males aboard the boat have been killed, U.S. Southern Command stated.
Based on the Authorities Accountability Workplace, fentanyl is the first reason for overdose deaths within the U.S. and principally comes from China and Mexico by the Southern border.
On Tuesday, Trump designated the Venezuelan authorities a “terrorist” group and ordered a “full and whole” blockade of sanctioned oil tankers shifting in and in another country. He instructed Politico final week that he wouldn’t rule out a floor invasion of Venezuela.
“We’ve got essentially the most highly effective navy anyplace on the planet and it is not even shut. I’ve restored American power,” Trump stated.
