Trump speech praises accomplishments, criticizes Biden presidency – DW – 12/18/2025

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino has said he will leave the agency in January after less than ten months in the post.

Bongino, a former right-wing podcaster, was appointed by Trump in March amid criticism of his lack of experience.

You can read more about Bongino’s departure from the FBI here.

Trump has finished speaking.

We will soon bring you an analysis of what he said during his live address on television.

Trump has promised a “warrior dividend” of $1,776 (about €1,500) for military service personnel, which will be sent before Christmas.

He said checks have already been sent to about 15 lakh service personnel.

Trump spent the beginning of his speech bashing former President Joe Biden and boasting about what he saw as his accomplishments during his first year in office.

He said he inherited “a mess” and “the world’s worst border” from the Biden administration.

“We have brought more positive change to Washington than any administration in American history,” he said.

He touched briefly on a number of topics during his speech, including crime, immigration, the war on drugs and restoring strength to America’s military.

He’s also talking about bringing down prices, a concern for many Americans amid the affordability crisis.

He is also praising his administration’s record on wage increases and employment.

“We are the hottest country in the world,” he said.

US President Donald Trump’s speech comes amid concerns over his declining popularity and rising costs.

His approval rating dropped from 41% to 39% in a new Reuters/Ipsos poll published on Tuesday.

The survey found that only one-third (33%) of Americans approve of how he is handling the economy.

A November poll by US broadcaster CBS News and YouGov showed that nearly two-thirds (or 65%) of Americans think Trump’s policies are increasing the price of groceries.

“The message this evening is that we inherited a mess, and we’ve done a great job, and we’re continuing to do that, and our country is going to be stronger than ever very soon,” US President Donald Trump said in a preview of his speech to reporters on Wednesday.

White House spokeswoman Carolyn Leavitt told reporters that Trump could take policy steps that are also likely to come next year.

Follow us as we bring you news from the Trump administration and the United States.