'A very wealthy gentleman offered to pay': Trump on questions over US troops salaries amid shutdown

US President Donald Trump

President Trump claimed that a "very wealthy gentleman" offered to step in and cover the salaries of U.S. troops if funds ran out during the ongoing government shutdown.

When a reporter asked, "You have the money to pay the troops...?" Trump responded, "I do... I actually have a man who is a very wealthy person... A donor, a great gentleman, and he said, 'If there's any money necessary, shortfall, for the paying of the troops, then I will pay it,' meaning he will pay it."

Questions about whether military members would receive their paychecks on October 15 have grown as the shutdown passed the two-week mark. Normally, service members are paid on schedule, but the shutdown put this payment cycle in doubt. Congress was supposed to approve emergency legislation by October 13 to guarantee pay, but that day happened to fall on Columbus Day, a federal holiday, making swift action difficult.

Trump addressed the situation earlier, taking to Truth Social on October 11 to insist he would not let troops go unpaid. He wrote, “I am using my authority, as Commander-in-Chief, to direct our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15th. We have identified funds to do this, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to PAY OUR TROOPS. I will not allow the Democrats to hold our Military, and the entire Security of our Nation, HOSTAGE, with their dangerous Government Shutdown.”

Reuters reported that the armed forces are considered essential workers, so military operations continue even during a shutdown. However, this does not automatically guarantee that salaries go out on time. According to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the government has chosen to pause payments to some federal agencies, including the Smithsonian museums and National Zoo, in order to meet troop payroll.

Meanwhile, the National Military Family Association urged Americans to pressure Congress to act quickly. The nonprofit said around 35,000 messages have already been sent to lawmakers demanding protection for military pay during the shutdown.

Despite the escalating concern, officials in the Trump administration continue to insist that active-duty personnel will get paid on schedule -- at least for the current month.