Fact Check: "The U.S. national debt exceeds $31 trillion."
What We Know
As of June 4, 2025, the total gross national debt of the United States is reported to be approximately $36.21 trillion, which is significantly higher than the $31 trillion threshold mentioned in the claim. This figure represents an increase of $1.56 trillion from the previous year and $10.29 trillion from five years ago (Joint Economic Committee). Furthermore, the U.S. Treasury's "Debt to the Penny" dataset confirms that the total public debt outstanding is updated daily and includes various forms of Treasury securities, which collectively contribute to the national debt (U.S. Treasury Fiscal Data).
Analysis
The claim that the U.S. national debt exceeds $31 trillion is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The Joint Economic Committee's report indicates that the national debt is currently at $36.21 trillion, which is well above the claimed figure (Joint Economic Committee). Additionally, the U.S. Treasury's "Debt to the Penny" dataset provides a reliable daily update on the national debt, confirming the substantial amount of outstanding debt (U.S. Treasury Fiscal Data).
The reliability of these sources is high, as they are official government reports and datasets. The Joint Economic Committee is a bipartisan committee of the U.S. Congress, and the U.S. Treasury is the federal department responsible for managing government revenue and debt. Both sources utilize rigorous methodologies to calculate and report the national debt, thus providing a trustworthy basis for the claim.
In contrast, some less reliable sources, such as Wikipedia, may provide varying figures based on different reporting times or methodologies (Wikipedia). However, the most authoritative and current data from the U.S. Treasury and the Joint Economic Committee clearly support the claim.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that the U.S. national debt exceeds $31 trillion is accurate, as the current total gross national debt is approximately $36.21 trillion. This figure is supported by reliable data from the Joint Economic Committee and the U.S. Treasury, confirming that the national debt has indeed surpassed the $31 trillion mark.
