Fact Check: "The U.S. national debt is approximately $36 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. This figure represents an increase of $1.56 trillion from the previous year and $10.29 trillion from five years ago (Joint Economic Committee). The U.S. Treasury's "Debt to the Penny" dataset also confirms that the total public debt outstanding is consistently updated and reflects similar figures (U.S. Treasury Fiscal Data).
Analysis
The claim that the U.S. national debt is approximately $36 trillion is supported by multiple credible sources. The Joint Economic Committee, which provides detailed reports on national debt, states that as of June 2025, the gross national debt is $36.21 trillion (source-1). This aligns with the data from the U.S. Treasury, which tracks the national debt daily and confirms that the total public debt outstanding is accurately reported (source-2).
The reliability of these sources is high. The Joint Economic Committee is a bipartisan committee of the U.S. Congress, which lends credibility to its reports. Additionally, the U.S. Treasury is the official government body responsible for managing federal finances, including the issuance of debt.
While some sources, such as Wikipedia, provide historical context and figures that may vary slightly due to the timing of reports, they do not contradict the claim regarding the current debt level (source-6). The most recent data from the Treasury and the Joint Economic Committee consistently supports the assertion that the national debt is around $36 trillion.
Conclusion
Verdict: True. The claim that the U.S. national debt is approximately $36 trillion is accurate based on the latest data from reliable sources, including the Joint Economic Committee and the U.S. Treasury. The figure of $36.21 trillion as of June 2025 confirms that the claim is substantiated and reflects the current financial status of the U.S. government.
