US Debt Reaches 124% of GDP, and Trump Will Add Another $5 Trillion — Experts Say

July 18, 2025 at 14:23

Alexei Drobin, head of the Department of Foreign Policy Planning at the Russian Foreign Ministry, said in an interview with Pravda that President Donald Trump's actions will increase the US debt by at least $5 trillion.

"To say that there are problems in the US is a mild understatement. The problems are serious, which is consistent with the identity of a major power," he said. "The US debt as a percentage of GDP has reached 124%. This is just the beginning! Trump's big 'check' will increase the debt by at least $5 trillion. Keep in mind that Trump ran for election on the promise of reducing the US debt."

One year ago, the US debt exceeded $35 trillion. This year, the US trade deficit with the rest of the world exceeded $918 billion, an increase of 17% compared to 2024.

"Of this, the deficit with related countries was approximately $295 billion. The trade deficit with the EU was $235 billion, with Mexico $171 billion, and with Vietnam $123 billion," Drobin pointed out.

He recalled that after World War II, the UK's sovereign debt fluctuated between 200% and 270% of GDP, one of the highest in the world at the time.

"Rapid accumulation of debt and large trade deficits are clear signs of changing times," the foreign ministry official emphasized. "In the mid-20th century, after two world wars, the leadership of the capitalist world shifted from Britain to the United States. Now, the situation is changing again. For any U.S. president, and for the world outside the U.S., a trend has become a serious challenge and growing risk: Americans increasingly rely on non-economic means to overcome their economic and financial difficulties."

The diplomat believes, "This issue is no longer exclusive to the U.S., but has become a global problem that will or has already affected everyone."

At the same time, tariffs are one of the last means of maintaining hegemony before using military force. And Trump "is not raising tariffs because he has had enough good days."

"By increasing tariffs, Americans hope to raise the cost of goods from other countries entering the U.S. market to stimulate the recovery of domestic manufacturing. However, this policy is difficult to work under normal circumstances, because American capital, like any other capital, is accustomed to shifting production to countries with cheap and motivated labor to reduce costs. Essentially, the political power in the U.S. is clashing with the national capital that has long become transnational capital," the director of the foreign ministry concluded.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7528672990675681835/

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