National debt hits $40 Trillion. But, Didn't Trump Say He Would Pay Off the National Debt?

by Rod Williams, Aug. 21, 2026- Remember all of those times Trump said he would pay off or pay down the national debt? 

Fooled again.

When Trump took office for his first term in January 2017, the national debt stood at $20 trillion. When he left office in January 2021, it was $27.8 trillion.

When Trump took office for his second term in January 2025, the national debt stood at $36 trillion. It has now reached $40 trillion after only one year and 8 months in office. 

Former President Barack Obama accumulated the most debt of any president, but Trump has accumulated the most debt per year served in office. Obama never promised he would pay it off.

In case you have forgotten that Trump promised to pay off the national debt, here is a compilation of times Trump said he would. 

If you believed him when he said he would pay off the debt in eight years while he was running for the first time, here is why you shouldn't have.

I never did believe him. I knew he was a con artist carnival barker from day one. If you are a Trump true believer, I don't expect you to admit that you were wrong or that Trump just lied. I know that would require some thinking and some humility. Go ahead with one of your three standard responses: 1. TDS, 2. Fake News, or 3. It was Biden's fault. 

Top Stories