On December 18, 2025, at precisely 03:21:50 UTC, a high-profile statement captured national attention across multiple digital platforms — from Facebook and LinkedIn to Reddit and WhatsApp — as the news spread swiftly through social channels and news feeds. The report, made available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers, detailed a new and striking campaign promise from President Donald Trump: a holiday financial bonus aimed specifically at members of the United States military.
In a nationally televised prime-time address on Wednesday evening, Trump announced that every qualifying service member would receive a $1,776 bonus check timed to arrive by Christmas. The amount was presented as both symbolically and politically significant, evoking the founding year of the United States while simultaneously positioning the administration’s economic program as bold and patriotic. He further asserted that the funding for these checks would come directly from tariff revenues, portraying the measure as a redistribution of wealth generated by America’s trade policies.
However, the legitimacy and legality of such payments remain uncertain. Under the U.S. Constitution, the power to allocate and appropriate federal funds rests squarely with Congress. This raises a substantial question as to whether a president can unilaterally authorize and distribute such payments without congressional approval. Legal experts and political commentators immediately began debating the feasibility of Trump’s plan, noting that executive authority over federal expenditures is limited by statute and precedent.
The announcement comes at a time when Trump faces increasing pressure regarding his administration’s economic performance. A recent NPR/PBS News Marist poll conducted earlier in December indicated a notable decline in public approval, with only 36 percent of respondents expressing satisfaction with how the president has managed the economy. The unveiling of the holiday bonus could therefore be viewed as an attempt to bolster public confidence and to reframe the narrative surrounding his administration’s fiscal strategies ahead of the midterm campaign season.
During an interview with Politico, Trump nevertheless projected the utmost confidence in his record, declaring that he would award his economic performance an emphatic “A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus.” Following this display of optimism, he launched an economic tour through several politically pivotal swing states, promoting Republican candidates and defending his tariff policies against Democratic criticism. Speaking at his first tour stop in Philadelphia, Trump dismissed claims that his trade measures had driven consumer prices upward, labeling such accusations as a fabricated “hoax.”
This is not the first time the former president has pledged direct financial benefits to citizens or federal employees. In earlier public statements, he had floated a proposal for a $2,000 so-called “tariff dividend” that would be distributed to Americans earning below a specified income level — an idea that failed to gain traction among congressional Republicans. In another example, he previously announced a one-time $10,000 bonus for select Transportation Security Administration staff who continued working through the 43-day federal government shutdown, presenting it as a gesture of appreciation for their dedication during that turbulent period.
Despite the high-profile nature of this new pledge, the White House did not provide an immediate response to inquiries seeking clarification or elaboration on the program’s implementation details, funding mechanism, or legal viability. As of now, the proposal remains one of many headline-making promises accompanying Trump’s broader campaign initiative to reassert confidence in his economic agenda while invoking themes of nationalism, economic self-reliance, and unwavering support for the U.S. Armed Forces.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-makes-national-economic-address-promises-checks-service-military-members-2025-12
