Whoopi Goldberg questions Trump’s veteran Christmas bonus as possible 'bribe'

Whoopi Goldberg on Thursday suggested that President Donald Trump’s promised Christmas bonus for U.S. troops could amount to a bribe to secure their support for his agenda. On The View, she referenced Trump's description of a 'warrior dividend'—a one-time payment of $1,776 to roughly 1.5 million service members that Trump said would be sent this Christmas. He described the initiative as funded by tariffs and the recently enacted GOP spending and tax package, and he asserted that the checks are already on the way.

Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former Trump aide who co-hosts The View, pushed back from the panel's side, saying the policy is one of the few areas where she gives Trump some credit while noting that broader, smarter policies are needed to help Americans. Goldberg pressed the point, saying she wanted to see the money reach service members first and questioning whether a one-time cash grant addresses deeper needs. "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?'" Griffin added that policy results—rather than handouts—are what ultimately matter for everyday Americans.

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment but did not receive an immediate response. The White House’s lack of a rapid reply left Goldberg’s remarks to reverberate through a broader conversation about veteran benefits, military funding, and the use of cash incentives in political messaging. The episode underscored how veteran benefits sit at the intersection of national security, fiscal policy, and partisan rhetoric.

Trump announced the plan during a Wednesday night address, saying that nearly 1.5 million military service members would receive a one-time cash payment of $1,776, described as a 'warrior dividend' in honor of the nation’s founding roughly 250 years ago. He framed the payments as proof that tariffs and the GOP’s spending and tax package had created the cash to distribute. The figure reflects the administration’s estimate of eligible active-duty and reserve personnel, and the administration asserted the checks were already in motion as part of a holiday gesture.

Defense and veteran groups have offered mixed responses, highlighting the long-running debate over how best to support service members without tying benefits to political objectives. Critics warn that cash bonuses can become tools for political leverage if their value and timing are tethered to policy wins, while supporters argue that veterans deserve tangible, direct support to recognize their service. The conversation comes as lawmakers grapple with the budget, military spending priorities, and the broader question of how to fund ongoing operations and benefits while navigating a crowded partisan landscape.

The episode’s attention on The View comes as the political discourse around veteran benefits and national security spending continues to surface amid holiday messaging, legislative deadlines, and a year-end political environment. While Trump framed the bonus as a sign of gratitude and a practical response to funding decisions, critics pressed whether one-time payments can meaningfully address longer-term needs or risk becoming a bargaining chip in policy disputes. As events unfold, observers will watch how this issue influences the broader conversation about how the United States funds and communicates support for its service members in an era of fiscal constraints and partisan divides.