Trump claims he’s brought down soaring prices, announces military bonuses in year-end address

The “warrior dividends” that Mr. Trump introduced Wednesday — basically $1,776 end-of-year bonuses — are being despatched to members of the active-duty army with a grade of O-6 or under, the White Home stated on X.

Within the Military, Marine Corps and Air Pressure, that features folks with the officer rank of colonel or under, and within the Navy and Coast Guard, it covers folks with the rank of captain or under. It isn’t clear if there are limits on enlisted personnel.

Members of the army’s reserve elements can even get checks in the event that they had been on active-duty orders of 31 days or extra as of Nov. 30.

About 1.28 million members of the army’s energetic element and 174,000 reservists will get the complement, a senior administration official stated. The overall price of the one-time funds will likely be about $2.6 billion.

The official stated the funds are funded by a $2.9 billion appropriation to the army’s Fundamental Allowance for Housing entitlement that was included within the One Massive Stunning Invoice Act different the summer time.

The president stated close to the tip of his speech that the U.S. is “poised for an financial growth, the likes of which the world has by no means seen.”

In current months, Mr. Trump has been battling voters’ damaging perceptions in regards to the economic system.

He additionally stated he needs guests to the U.S. for 2 large-scale occasions — the FIFA World Cup and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence — to see a rustic that is “the envy of all the globe.”

Mr. Trump claimed that underneath his administration, “inflation has stopped.”

Score: False

Particulars: 

The Shopper Worth Index exhibits that annual inflation reached 3% in September, which is the latest month for which knowledge is offered, because of the authorities shutdown.This is similar price as in January, when Mr. Trump first took workplace.And plenty of economists say no inflation would really be undesirable: The Federal Reserve’s official inflation goal is 2%, which is a benchmark for making certain financial development.

Throughout a bit on immigration, Mr. Trump pointed to Minnesota, the place he claimed Somali folks have “taken over the economics of the state.”

Minnesota has the nation’s largest Somali-American neighborhood, most of whom are U.S. residents. In current weeks, the president has highlighted a large-scale fraud investigation in Minnesota during which most, however not all, of the defendants had been of Somali descent.

“In the long run, authorities both serves the productive, patriotic, hardworking American citizen, or it serves those that break the legal guidelines, cheat the system and search energy and revenue on the expense of our nation,” he stated.

Mr. Trump famous that he’ll nominate a brand new Federal Reserve chair quickly, promising “somebody who believes in decrease rates of interest by rather a lot.”

The president has pressed the Fed’s present chair, Jerome Powell, to extra aggressively lower charges — a transfer that would enhance financial development however on the threat of upper inflation.

Mr. Trump stated: “Gasoline is now underneath $2.50 a gallon in a lot of the nation, in some states it — by the best way — simply hit $1.99 a gallon.”

Score: Deceptive

Particulars: 

In line with GasBuddy, the common value for normal gasoline sits at $2.89/gallon.Whereas there are some states like Texas and Arkansas that fall under the edge, the $2.50 value just isn’t widespread for many states throughout the nation.The newest knowledge from the Bureau of Labor Statistics has the common value of gasoline sitting at $3.48/per gallon, as of September 2025. The nationwide common for gasoline costs is at the moment at $2.90, based on the AAA. That’s simply 13 cents lower than the common a 12 months in the past, at $3.03.

By Alexandria Johnson

President Trump stated: “The present unaffordable Care Act was created to make insurance coverage firms wealthy. It was unhealthy well being care at a lot too excessive a value, and also you see that now within the steep improve in premiums being demanded by the Democrats, and they’re demanding these will increase, and it is their fault. It isn’t the Republicans’ fault. It is the Democrats’ fault.”

Score:  Deceptive

Particulars:

Whereas insurance coverage firms have benefited from the Inexpensive Care Act by subsidies, there isn’t any proof that the coverage was created to make them wealthy, because the president claims.Democrats in Congress proposed a three-year extension to ACA subsidies that will have prevented insurance coverage premiums from spiking for many individuals who purchase insurance coverage on exchanges.The Inexpensive Care Act additionally required medical health insurance firms to spend not less than 80% to 85% of {dollars} from premiums on care, capping administrative prices, different bills and income at 15% to twenty%.With the tax credit expiring on the finish of the 12 months, ACA recipients are anticipated to must pay 26% extra to well being insurers, a KFF evaluation discovered.Some Senate Republicans have proposed sending cash to Individuals in well being financial savings accounts, as an alternative of immediately subsidizing their insurance coverage.

Mr. Trump addressed well being care prices, a difficulty of rising concern for a lot of Individuals as a set of enhanced Inexpensive Care Act tax credit are set to run out on the finish of this 12 months.

The president did not supply a particular well being care framework, however stated the funding used for insurance coverage subsidies ought to “go to the folks” slightly than to insurers.

“The one losers will likely be insurance coverage firms which have gotten wealthy, and the Democrat Get together, which is completely managed by those self same insurance coverage firms,” he stated.

He additionally pointed to TrumpRx, a soon-to-be-launched web site that’s anticipated to supply direct-to-consumer drug gross sales from sure drugmakers.

The speech got here hours after Home Republicans handed a invoice that features a number of GOP-backed modifications to the well being care system however wouldn’t prolong enhanced Inexpensive Care Act subsidies.

President Trump stated: “Democrat politicians additionally despatched the price of groceries hovering. However we’re fixing that too. The worth of a Thanksgiving turkey was down 33% in comparison with … final 12 months. The worth of eggs is down 82% since March.”

Score: Partially true

Particulars:

It is true that grocery prices have gone up considerably over the previous 5 years — up 30% since Jan. 2020, based on a CBS Information evaluation of BLS dataWhile wholesale turkey costs are up from 2024, the common retail value for turkey is down 16% in 2025, based on the American Farm Bureau.Egg costs are down rather a lot since March – shopper costs, what buyers pay on the retailer, are down 43% based on BLS knowledge. Wholesale costs, what retailers pay producers, are down round 67%, based on BLS knowledge. There isn’t a one supply for monitoring the worth of an merchandise, and it is honest to say that egg costs have fallen dramatically as flocks have recovered from an avian flu outbreak earlier this 12 months.

Mr. Trump stated the federal government is sending $1,776 to army service members earlier than Christmas, which he known as “warrior dividends.”

He stated the checks could be paid for partly with income from tariffs.

Trump: “Subsequent 12 months additionally, you will see the outcomes of the most important tax cuts in American historical past, that had been actually achieved by our nice ‘Massive, Stunning Invoice,’ maybe probably the most sweeping laws ever handed in Congress.”

Score: False

Particulars:

The Financial Restoration Tax Act of 1981 is taken into account to be the most important tax lower in america based on The Tax Basis. 

The tax coverage suppose tank ranked the most important tax cuts since 1940 by evaluating how a lot every one decreased tax revenues relative to the scale of the economic system on the time, expressed as a share of GDP. The Tax Basis stated the tax cuts underneath President Ronald Reagan represented a income change of -2.89%, whereas the lower underneath One Massive Stunning Invoice is projected to provide a -1.4% income change.

By Natalie McCormick

Mr. Trump claimed that Democrats introduced the nation to the “brink of damage,” whereas taking credit score for “bringing these costs down.” He touted drops in gasoline costs and different gadgets.

Inflation was at 3% year-over-year in September, effectively under a peak of 9.1% in 2022 — however meaning shopper costs have continued to go up, not down, even when the speed of will increase has decreased. It is extraordinarily uncommon for the U.S. to expertise reducing costs, or deflation.

Mr. Trump has usually claimed Biden-era inflation was the worst in U.S. historical past. In actuality, inflation was larger within the late Nineteen Seventies and early Nineteen Eighties. 

The president additionally stated current financial success is because of “my favourite phrase: tariffs.”

“Corporations know that in the event that they construct in America there aren’t any tariffs, and that is why they’re coming residence to the USA in document numbers,” he stated.

Mr. Trump targeted on immigration, saying he inherited “the worst border wherever on this planet.”

“In a couple of brief months, we went from worst to finest,” he stated.

The president stated: “For the previous seven months, zero unlawful aliens have been allowed into our nation, a feat which everybody stated was completely unimaginable.”

Score: Partially true

Particulars: 

The president is probably going referring to the variety of migrants who’re launched after being apprehended. Over the previous seven months, Customs and Border Safety has stated not a single migrant has been launched into the U.S. by Border Patrol after crossing the southern border unlawfully.Some migrants initially arrested by Border Patrol after which transferred to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement might be launched by that company, although the Trump administration has sought to bar those that entered the U.S. illegally from being eligible for bond.These numbers don’t account for migrants who enter the U.S. illegally with out being caught by Border Patrol brokers. It is unclear what number of of these so-called “got-aways” have been recorded underneath the second Trump administration.After reaching document highs underneath the Biden administration, unlawful crossings alongside the U.S. southern border have plummeted since Mr. Trump returned to workplace, reaching the bottom stage since 1970 in fiscal 12 months 2025.

Mr. Trump stated that underneath former President Joe Biden: “Our border was open, and due to this, our nation was being invaded by a military of 25 million folks, many who got here from prisons and jails, psychological establishments and insane asylums.”

Score: False

Particulars:

Whereas Customs and Border Safety reported document excessive ranges of migrant encounters underneath Biden’s presidency, the quantity just isn’t near 25 million, and never everybody who entered the nation illegally or legally throughout that point interval was allowed to remain.Customs and Border Safety reported practically 11 million nationwide encounters with migrants who lacked correct paperwork to enter the U.S. between fiscal years 2021 and 2024, a time interval largely underneath the Biden administration, authorities figures present.These figures embody migrants who crossed the southern and northern borders, each illegally and with the federal government’s permission. In addition they embody these arriving by sea and air, together with these allowed into the U.S. underneath Biden administration packages.The variety of encounters is not the identical because the variety of migrants, although, as a result of some crossed into the U.S. a number of instances after being rotated to Mexico. Between fiscal years 2021 and 2024, U.S. officers additionally recorded over 4.7 million deportations, expulsions and repatriations of migrants, based on authorities knowledge.Along with these encountered, Border Patrol estimates that roughly 1.7 million migrants evaded apprehension underneath the Biden administration.

Mr. Trump started his speech by lashing out at former President Joe Biden on inflation and immigration, saying: “I inherited a large number, and I am fixing it.”

He pointed to excessive inflation within the wake of the pandemic and likewise stated, “Our border was open and due to this, our nation was being invaded.” And he accused Democrats of inflicting “mayhem.”

A year-end deal with is uncommon for Mr. Trump, who didn’t ship an annual year-end speech throughout his first time period in workplace. 

The president’s final nationwide deal with was aired by the White Home on Nov. 26, after two members of the West Virginia Nationwide Guard had been shot in Washington, D.C., not removed from the White Home. Mr. Trump was in Florida on the time.

All through 2025, about three-quarters of Individuals stated their incomes weren’t retaining tempo with inflation, based on a CBS Information ballot launched at present, and views of the general economic system stay low, with 32% saying that the situation of the economic system is sweet. 

On private funds, about half of the nation continues to say their monetary state of affairs is sweet, whereas about half say it’s unhealthy, which has been the case all year long. 

Total, for these whose monetary state of affairs modified over the 12 months, extra stated it received worse slightly than higher.  However those that did really feel their state of affairs improved had been additionally extra more likely to be these with larger incomes. 

The general public’s evaluations of the U.S. job market particularly stay internet damaging. This comes as the newest authorities knowledge exhibits considerably of a blended bag: extra jobs had been added in November than economists anticipated, however the unemployment price ticked as much as its highest stage since September 2021.

Among the many vivid spots, on steadiness, extra Individuals price the situation of the inventory market pretty much as good than price it as unhealthy, and that is notably so amongst these for whom the market’s efficiency issues rather a lot to their funds. 

Extra Individuals now say the worth of gasoline of their space is coming down than say it is going up — a reversal from what we noticed this fall and over the 12 months.