From warrior dividend to claims of ending wars: Key takeaways from Trumps year-end address

New Delhi: US President Donald Trump, on Thursday, delivered a pre-holiday address from the White House on Wednesday , portraying his first year in office as a success story, even as his approval rating slipped to 39 per cent amid economic and ahed of tough midterm elections in 2026. 

War dividend for soldiers

Trump announced "warrior dividend", a special cash payout for American soldiers, to recognise their service and sacrifice. Trump said more than 1.45 million military personnel will receive USD 1,776 each before Christmas, calling it a gesture of recognition for their service and sacrifice.  He made the announcement as he addressed the United States to present his administration's 2025 accomplishments and agenda for 2026 amid falling popularity.

"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, we call, warrior dividend before Christmas, a warrior dividend in honor of our nation's founding in 1776. We are sending every soldier USD 1,776," he said while addressing the nation on Wednesday (local time).

'Settled 8 wars'

 The US President reiterated his claim that he helped resolve at least eight wars across the world in the first 10 months of his second term in the White House. He went on to say that "tariff" was his "most favourite word", a policy that significantly altered global trade dynamics. "I've settled 8 wars in ten months, destroyed the Iran nuclear threat and ended the war in Gaza, bringing for the first time in 3000 years peace to the Middle East," he said in a rare evening address from the White House. The US President further said that much of his administration's successes were driven by his tariffs.

Trump has repeatedly claimed that he helped end nearly eight wars across the country. He also claimed that he stopped the military conflict between India and Pakistan in May this year using trade leverage. India has, however, vehemently rejected these claims. 

'Fixing mess inherited from Biden administration'

Trump also slammed his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden for soaring consumer prices. "I am bringing those high prices down and bringing them down very fast," he said.

He said that "eleven months ago" he inherited "a mess" from the previous administration led by Biden and is "fixing it" now. He said that several grievances of the Biden era, including "open borders", the "worst trade deals ever made" and a "sick and corrupt" federal government have been fixed.

"For the last four years, the United States was ruled by politicians who fought only for insiders, illegal aliens, career criminals, corporate lobbyists, prisoners, terrorists and, above all, foreign nations which took advantage of us at levels never seen before," he said.