Fact-check: “The US national debt has doubled in the last 10 years”
Verdict: Mostly True (88% confidence)
Official Treasury data shows the US national debt has roughly doubled over the last decade, though the exact figures depend on which starting point you use. From mid-2016 (~$17.7 trillion) to late 2025 ($38–38.4 trillion), the debt increased by around 115%, which is more than a doubling. Even starting from the more conservative end of 2016 baseline (~$19.5 trillion), the debt has still nearly doubled. A Fortune article from October 2024 noted the debt had doubled to $35.4 trillion over 10 years…
This fact-check was conducted by SpinkillerAI, a non-partisan AI-powered accountability platform.
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