Who Will Qualify for the Money as Trump Promises a Christmas Cash Gift for Millions of Americans

Donald Trump unveiled a significant cash payment for more than one million Americans during a televised address on Wednesday evening (December 17).

Speaking live from the White House, the president reflected on his first eleven months in office. He quickly shifted into a self-praising summary of what he described as his administration’s achievements, stressing how those efforts would benefit Americans in the months ahead.

Credit: The White House / YouTube

During the speech, Trump announced plans to distribute a $1,776 payment—referred to as a “warrior dividend”—to active-duty members of the U.S. military this holiday season. He said the payments were “already being processed” and expected to reach recipients within days.

“Active-duty military service members will receive a special payment — we call it the Warrior Dividend — before Christmas, in recognition of our nation’s founding in 1776,” Trump stated.

The proposed payout is part of a wider package of financial incentives targeted at specific groups of Americans, a move that appears aimed at pushing back against the president’s recent decline in polling numbers.

For many households, any form of extra financial support would likely be welcomed, as rising inflation continues to place pressure on family budgets across much of the country. Trump argued that these economic challenges were entirely the responsibility of his predecessor, Joe Biden.

Credit: Peter W. Stevenson/The Washington Post via Getty Images

According to Trump, Biden was to blame for nearly all of the nation’s current difficulties. He pointed to what he described as uncontrolled immigration, stagnant wages, rapidly increasing prescription drug costs, and a weakening economy as proof of that failure.

“Eleven months ago, I inherited a disaster, and I’m fixing it,” Trump said. “When I took office, inflation was the worst it had been in 48 years — some would say in the history of our country — driving prices to record highs and making everyday life unaffordable for millions and millions of Americans.”

While placing responsibility squarely on Democrats, Trump also outlined how he claimed his administration was addressing these problems, highlighting what he described as meaningful progress made so far under his leadership.

One major focus of his proposed solutions involves sharply cutting the cost of prescription medications — by as much as “600 percent,” according to Trump — a reduction he said was enabled through the success of his tariff policies.

“I’m doing what no politician from either party has ever done by standing up to special interests and dramatically lowering the cost of prescription drugs,” Trump told viewers.

“I negotiated directly with drug companies and foreign nations that had been taking advantage of our country for decades, forcing prices down by 400, 500, or even 600 percent.”

“In simple terms, your drug costs will be dropping fast. I used the threat of foreign tariffs on countries that would never have agreed otherwise to cover the cost of this massive reduction. They stopped ripping us off, and it started four days ago.”

With the average American reportedly spending between $1,200 and $1,400 each year on medications, Trump argued that such price reductions—if fully realized—could lead to significant savings for millions of people nationwide.