Whoopi Goldberg calls Trump's military bonus a potential bribe
On The View, co-hosts spar over a $1,776 "warrior dividend" for troops
Whoopi Goldberg suggested on Thursday that President Donald Trump’s promised Christmas bonus for veterans could be a political ploy, describing it as a potential bribe to secure support for his agenda. Trump announced that nearly 1.5 million active-duty and reserve service members would receive a one-time cash payment of $1,776, billed as a "warrior dividend" to honor the nation’s founding roughly 250 years ago. He said the checks were on the way and credited tariffs and the recently passed GOP spending and tax package for the available cash.
On The View, the co-hosts balked at the address. Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former Trump aide, said this policy was "the one thing I give him credit on." Goldberg pushed back, saying, "I want to see them get it first," and added in a later remark that Trump's move might be part of an "unconstitutional plan" requiring soldiers’ steadfast backing. "What he’s doing is thinking, ‘If I make sure the soldiers have what they need, they’ll back me and what I want, see?’" The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Marine Dakota Meyer appeared on Fox News to respond to Goldberg's remarks on "The Story." He told host Martha MacCallum that Goldberg’s comments were irrelevant and quipped about the next generation potentially forgetting her. "The great thing is that my daughters and this next generation will grow up and not even know who Whoopi Goldberg is," he said.
The debate over veteran benefits and political messaging comes as the White House touts the distribution of the warrior dividend amid a broader policy agenda and bipartisan concerns about aid and inflation. Coverage of the exchange appeared in multiple outlets, including the New York Post, which highlighted Goldberg’s remarks and the administration’s timing. Fox News Digital's requests for comment from the White House were not immediately returned.
