Donald Trump entered office pledging to cut wasteful spending, shrink budget deficits, and lower the national debt. However, by the end of his tenure, he is set to add more than $12 trillion to America’s debt — the largest increase under any US president.
National Debt Reaches Record Levels
The US national debt — the total amount the government owes — has already hit $37 trillion and is projected to exceed $50 trillion within the next decade. According to estimates, over one-third of the new debt in that period will be directly tied to Trump’s policies.
This reality starkly contrasts with Trump’s campaign promises at the start of his second term. His administration created the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), which fired more than 100,000 government workers, closed down entire departments and programs, and nearly eliminated foreign aid. These steps were intended to reduce spending and borrowing, but overall, the policies have driven debt upward instead.
Impact of the “One Big Beautiful Bill”
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB) will add roughly $5 trillion to the national debt over the next decade.
The breakdown includes:
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$4.1 trillion from the OBBB alone — with $3.4 trillion in primary debt and about $700 billion in extra costs.
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An additional $900 billion if the bill’s temporary provisions are made permanent.
When combined with the already projected $12.6 trillion increase in debt from other factors, the national debt is expected to reach $54.6 trillion by 2034.
Trump’s Share of the Debt
In his first term (2017–2021), Trump added about $7.8 trillion to the national debt. When combined with the $5 trillion expected from his second term, his total contribution rises to $12.8 trillion.
By 2034, Trump’s policies will account for 23.44% of the total projected national debt, making his debt record the largest in American history.
