Fact Check – Did Trump increase military pay and fix recruitment problems?

Media Bias Fact Check (MBFC) publishes daily vetted fact checks from verified IFCN-approved sources. Each claim is independently reviewed for accuracy and context.


Claimant: President Donald Trump (R)


Claim: Military pay raises under his administration are “something you weren’t getting from the past administration,” and “one year ago, we couldn’t get anybody to join” the military.


Rating: FALSE


Explanation: The 3.8% 2026 pay raise is smaller than Biden-era increases of 4.5–5.2%. Raises are determined by a statutory formula, not presidential discretion. Recruitment data show most branches met FY 2024 goals, contradicting Trump’s claim.


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Date: 10/25/2025


 

Last Updated on November 3, 2025 by Media Bias Fact Check

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