US national debt surpasses $40T as Trump faces criticism over fiscal discipline

The US national debt has surpassed $40 trillion for the first time, reflecting decades of borrowing and rising costs. This milestone limits fiscal flexibility, potentially increasing borrowing costs and impacting public investment capacity and economic stability. Consequently, Trump faces criticism regarding fiscal discipline. Projections indicate that future borrowing will exceed $2 trillion by 2026, primarily to cover existing debts rather than funding new initiatives, highlighting a troubling financial landscape for the United States' gross national debt.