Trump declares economy is fixed in end-of-year speech

A Strong Economic Narrative

Just a little over a week before Christmas, President Trump delivered a live broadcast from the White House, addressing Americans and highlighting what he described as significant economic achievements. In his 25-minute remarks, Trump emphasized that the economy is performing well and that his administration is fulfilling its campaign promises.

“Tonight, after 11 months, our border is secure, inflation is stopped, wages are up, prices are down, our nation is strong, America is respected, and our country is back,” he stated. The president’s speech covered a range of accomplishments in 2025, including curbing illegal immigration, reducing inflation, settling eight wars, and lowering gas and grocery prices.

Military Support and Federal Reserve Announcement

Trump also announced plans to pay over 1 million members of the military “warrior dividends” of $1,776. “Nobody deserves it more than our military, and I say congratulations to everybody,” he said. He added, “Nobody understood that one until about 30 minutes ago.”

Additionally, the president teased an upcoming announcement regarding the next Federal Reserve chair. “It will be someone who believes in lowering interest rates by a lot,” he said, hinting at potential changes in monetary policy.

Addressing Healthcare and Obamacare

During his address, Trump discussed the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), referencing a Government Accountability Office report that highlighted how the program funnels money to insurance companies without providing adequate healthcare to individuals. “The current Unaffordable Care Act was created to make insurance companies rich,” he claimed. “It was bad health care at much too high a cost.”

Instead of directing funds to insurance companies, Trump proposed that the money should go directly to people so they can purchase their own healthcare. This statement comes amid ongoing congressional debates about extending COVID-19-era subsidies for ACA insurance premiums, which automatically qualify anyone receiving unemployment benefits for $0 per month health insurance.

Emphasis on Affordability

Throughout his presidential campaign last year, Trump promised to “end inflation and make America affordable again.” During his recent remarks, he reiterated this commitment. He cited a drop in egg prices by 82% since March and a 33% decrease in Thanksgiving turkey prices from the previous year.

“Everything else is falling rapidly, and it’s not done yet, but boy are we making progress,” he said. Additionally, Trump noted that real wages for workers have increased, citing specific figures. “Under Biden, real wages plummeted by $3,000. Under Trump, the typical factory worker has seen a wage increase of $1,300,” he explained. He also mentioned wage increases of $1,800 for construction workers and $3,300 for miners.

Tax Cuts and Economic Relief

Trump also spoke about economic relief through tax cuts outlined in the summer’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. “Next spring is expected to be the largest tax refund season of any year,” he said, indicating potential financial benefits for American citizens.

Private Sector Growth and Housing Reforms

In another part of his address, Trump praised the private sector, stating that more people are working today than at any time in American history. “One hundred percent of all jobs created since I took office have been in the private sector. Think of that ... which is the only way to make a country powerful and great,” he said.

He continued, “One year ago, our country was dead. It was ready to fail. Totally fail. Now we’re the hottest country in the entire world.” Although he did not provide specific details, Trump promised “aggressive housing reform plans in American history” for the new year.

“We’re poised for an economic boom, the likes of which the world has never seen,” he concluded.

As quickly as he began, Trump ended his speech with a holiday message. “To each and every one of you, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. God bless you all.”