President Donald Trump delivered a prime-time address to the nation from the White House on Wednesday, defending his economic record, criticising his predecessor, and announcing a one-time bonus for U.S. military personnel.
The speech aired at 9 p.m. Eastern Time which is 3 a.m. Thursday in Nigeria, from the White House Diplomatic Reception Room.
Trump framed his first year back in office as a turnaround after the failures of the previous administration.
“Eleven months ago, I inherited a mess, and I’m fixing it,” he said, blaming his predecessor for inflation and rising living costs.
He highlighted achievements in the economy and domestic initiatives, though several of his claims on prices and economic performance are debated by independent analysts.
Trump announced that more than 1.4 million U.S. military service members would receive a one-time $1,776 payment before Christmas, calling it a “warrior dividend” in honour of the year of America’s founding.
He said the checks would be funded partly by tariff revenue.
Independent fact-checkers note that details on funding and implementation have not been fully disclosed by the Pentagon or Department of Defense.
Trump defended his tariff policies and said he would nominate a Federal Reserve chair who supports lower interest rates, without providing a timeline or name.
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While he cited falling prices on some items, government data show inflation remains positive and overall consumer prices are still rising.
The address offered few new policy announcements beyond the military bonus.
Major foreign policy issues, including tensions with Venezuela, were not addressed.
Reactions were mixed: supporters welcomed the military payout and Trump’s forward-looking tone, while critics said the speech was largely political and included claims not fully backed by independent data.
Major U.S. television networks broadcast the speech live, temporarily interrupting regular programming