"Thanks to tariffs and the recently passed 'Beautiful Act', I am proud to announce tonight that over 1,450,000 service members will receive a special 'warrior dividend' before Christmas. In honor of America's founding year, 1776, we will give every service member USD 1,776," President Donald Trump declared on December 17, adding that the funds were on their way to military personnel.
Trump stated that the US had collected "more money than anyone thought" due to tariffs, and the "Beautiful Act" also benefited veterans.
"No one deserves it more than our military, and I extend my congratulations to everyone," the US President said.
 |
US President Donald Trump speaking at the White House on December 17. Photo: AP |
Trump's announcement came amidst declining approval ratings, primarily attributed to his economic policies. According to the latest employment report from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the country's unemployment rate reached a four-year high. Many citizens also expressed concerns that Trump's tariff policies would lead to increased commodity prices.
Before this announcement, the US President had undertaken other initiatives to support the military. He signed into law the Veterans' Housing Loan Program Reform Act, which aimed to prevent home foreclosures for veterans who were late on mortgage payments.
The "Beautiful Act" also provided various benefits for service members and their families, including a USD 100 million allocation from the Department of Defense to support public schools with a high enrollment of military children.
Throughout both of his presidential terms, Trump garnered support from military personnel. A 2019 report by the Pew Research Center indicated that a majority of US veterans approved of how the Republican politician managed the military. In the 2024 presidential election, most veterans also voted for Trump.
 |
US service members during a joint exercise at Mohamed Naguib base in Egypt in September. Photo: US Army |
However, not all financial decisions made by the Trump administration benefited the military. During a series of dialogues in March, some veterans angrily questioned Republican lawmakers as they defended budget cuts proposed by the Government Performance Board.
During his second term, Trump increased military deployment, sending large forces offshore Venezuela and deploying troops to US cities. These actions prompted some service members to call for resistance against "unlawful orders."
Pham Giang (According to AFP, CNN, USA Today)
