MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) host Jen Psaki fact-checked President Donald Trump’s nearly 20-minute address to the nation on December 17, 2025, characterizing the speech as lacking factual accuracy and criticizing the president for promoting his purported achievements to the American public.
During the address, Trump announced a $1,776 holiday bonus for military personnel, calling it a “warrior dividend.” Psaki quickly contested this assertion, clarifying that Congress, not the president, holds the budgetary authority and that, if such a bonus were to occur, it would be enacted by Congress.
Reports from several news outlets, including The Washington Post, verified that the $2.6 billion allocated for the warrior dividend payments is drawn from Congressionally-allocated military housing funds, contrary to Trump’s claim that they stemmed from tariff revenues. According to Defense One, these payments are structured as a “one-time basic allowance for housing supplement” for eligible service members, using funds from the $2.9 billion housing assistance appropriation authorized under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed in July 2025.
Psaki highlighted the symbolic nature of the $1,776 figure, referencing a Yale Budget Lab analysis that found the president’s tariffs have cost Americans approximately $1,700 per household. The use of the number 1776, linked to the Declaration of Independence, seemed intended to evoke patriotic feelings while diverting attention from the economic implications of trade policies for American households.
Psaki further scrutinized Trump’s statements about inflation, where the president claimed to have inherited the worst inflation in 48 years upon taking office. Psaki pointed out that inflation had been trending down from a peak of 9.1 percent in June 2022 during the Biden administration. Inflation was at 3 percent when Trump assumed office in January and held steady through September 2025. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest Consumer Price Index data, released on December 18, indicates a reduction in inflation to 2.7 percent for the 12 months ending November 2025.
The host reminded viewers that Trump had pledged during his campaign to end inflation on his first day in office, a promise that remains unfulfilled. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell recently said inflation remains high, countering the president’s claims of economic success.
Food prices were another issue Psaki addressed. She cited a report from Trump’s own Department of Agriculture, which confirmed that food prices are rising at a faster rate than inflation. According to the USDA’s report, food prices in August 2025 were 3.2 percent higher than the previous year, challenging the administration’s narrative of economic progress.
One of the most notable discrepancies involved Trump’s assertions regarding gasoline prices. The president claimed to have reduced gas prices to $1.99 per gallon. However, AAA data shows the national average gas price is $2.91 per gallon, highlighting a significant gap between the president’s claims and the reality measured by the automotive organization.
Fact-checkers found that while a small number of gas stations—estimated at 75 to 100 out of approximately 150,000 nationwide—were selling gas at $1.99 or below, CNN’s analysis of AAA and GasBuddy data indicated no state had an average price that low, with Oklahoma’s $2.34 per gallon being the lowest state average.
The Wednesday night address marked an unusual shift from typical presidential communications. Psaki described it as resembling a fast-paced infomercial more than a presidential address, with Trump’s rapid delivery posing challenges for real-time fact-checking.
Psaki’s fact-checking segment underscored the divide between the administration’s messaging and independently verified economic data. While Trump highlighted achievements across various policy domains, the actual data from government agencies and independent organizations provided a more nuanced view of the nation’s economic status.
The contrast between Trump’s rapid delivery and the content of his claims raised questions regarding the purpose behind the speech’s format. By speaking at twice his usual pace, the president might have aimed to inundate viewers with claims, making it difficult for audiences to assess or question individual assertions in real time.
Psaki’s swift response illustrated the role of media fact-checkers in modern political discourse. As presidential communications increasingly bypass traditional press conferences and interviews, where claims can be immediately challenged, journalists have adapted by offering rapid-response analysis of prepared remarks.
The Wednesday night address and its subsequent fact-checking highlight the ongoing tension between political messaging and empirical reality. With November 2025 inflation at 2.7 percent, gas prices averaging $2.91 per gallon nationally, and food prices increasing at 3.2 percent annually, the economic picture remains mixed. These figures suggest neither the crisis Trump described inheriting nor the complete success story his speech aimed to convey.
The incident emphasizes the importance of independent verification in an era of competing narratives about national conditions. As political leaders increasingly craft their own versions of reality through controlled media appearances, the role of fact-checkers and independent analysts becomes crucial in maintaining an informed electorate capable of making decisions based on accurate information rather than political spin.
