Fact-check: “The US national debt has doubled in the last 10 years”
Verdict: Mostly True (78% confidence)
Official Treasury data documented the total public debt outstanding near approximately $38.95 trillion as of late April 2026. Historical Treasury and FRED data indicate the gross federal debt was approximately $19–19.5 trillion in early-to-mid 2016, meaning the debt has roughly doubled — an increase of approximately 95–100% — over the 10-year period, though the exact figure depends on which precise dates and debt definition are used. The claim is substantially accurate but may slightly overstat…
This fact-check was conducted by SpinkillerAI, a non-partisan AI-powered accountability platform.
Related fact-checks
- Donald Trump Jr accepted a gift from a Russian oligearch — True
- European Union plans 200 million Euro investment in Greenland as a response to Trump's posturing — Mostly True
- Approximately 45% of the current Canadian population is made up of immigrants and the children of immigrants — Mostly True
- Recent job numbers increased faster than had been expected and are ahead of most analysts expectations — Partly True
- Medicare for all would cost trillions a year that Americans would pay through higher income taxes — Partly True