President Donald Trump, in a rare televised primetime address to the nation on Wednesday night, announced a plan to send more than a million members of the U.S. military $1,776 as a "warrior dividend."
"Because of tariffs, along with the just-passed 'One Big Beautiful Bill,' tonight I am also proud to announce that more than …1,450,000 military service members will receive a special warrior dividend before Christmas," Trump said in his address from the White House Diplomatic Reception Room.
"And the checks are already in the mail," he said.
Trump began his speech by blasting his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, saying that "I inherited a mess" when he returned to the White House last January.
"And I am fixing it," he said.
Trump highlighted his administration's efforts to seal the Southern border, bring down costs, and strengthen U.S. foreign policy.
"Our country was ready to fail, totally fail. Now we're the hottest country anywhere in the world," Trump said.
The address came as Trump's approval ratings are sagging across the board, on issues ranging from immigration to inflation, and as Republicans seek to hold on to majorities in the House and Senate in the 2026 midterm elections.
"We're bringing our economy back from the brink of ruin," Trump said during the address.
But the economy, once a selling point for the president, has become a vulnerability as his sweeping tariffs have caused uncertainty and led to increased costs for some consumers and businesses.
Trump recently called growing concerns about affordability a "Democratic hoax" and, in a Politico podcast this month, gave the economy a grade of "A plus plus plus plus plus."
Meanwhile, according to CNBC's All-America Economic Survey, 66% of Americans polled this month disapproved of Trump's handling of inflation, which is ticking up. In April, his disapproval rate on inflation was at 60%. Trump's economic approval rating is 36% and his overall approval rating is just 38%, according to a Marist poll released on Wednesday.
Democrats have sought to hammer Trump on the economy.
A group of Senate Democrats on Wednesday held a press conference on affordability.
"Costs are skyrocketing, and Democrats in 2026, you'll be hearing from us about costs over and over and over again," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said. "On the contrary, Donald Trump tonight is going to try to talk about his accomplishments, but it's going to be a very short speech."
During the address, Trump projected "the largest tax refund season of all time" thanks to the tax and spending package he signed into law over the summer.
The president also highlighted his foreign policy successes, making the questionable claim that he has ended eight wars since taking office and pointing to his aggressive posture toward Venezuela.
"Drugs brought in by ocean and by sea are now down 94%," Trump said.
Beginning in September, the Trump administration began striking alleged drug boats in the Eastern Pacific and the Caribbean. Trump claimed in October without evidence that each of the boats is "responsible for the death of 25,000 American people, and the destruction of families."
As Trump's speech was about to begin, the U.S. Southern Command announced on X that it had conducted a strike on a vessel in the Eastern Pacific that was "engaged in narco-trafficking operations." Four men aboard the boat were killed, U.S. Southern Command said.
According to the Government Accountability Office, fentanyl is the primary cause of overdose deaths in the U.S. and mostly comes from China and Mexico through the Southern border.
On Tuesday, Trump designated the Venezuelan government a "terrorist" organization and ordered a "complete and total" blockade of sanctioned oil tankers moving in and out of the country. He told Politico last week that he would not rule out a ground invasion of Venezuela.
"We have the most powerful military anywhere in the world and it's not even close. I've restored American strength," Trump said.
