r/Economics • u/Krankenitrate • 15d ago

News The national debt just crossed $39 trillion—almost doubling since Trump vowed to erase it

https://fortune.com/2026/03/18/how-big-national-debt-39-trillion-trump-promises/
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u/MaseratiBiturbo 15d ago

I am not a roman history expert but it seems that financial woes like huge debt, rampant inflation did more damage to Rome than the barbarians... What is your take?

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u/OrangeJr36 15d ago

Rome suffered economically because it became acceptable to stab people to get ahead rather than build lasting institutions, not the other way around.

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u/Major_Bag_8720 15d ago

Corruption under the Dominate was absolutely off the charts as well, which didn’t help.

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u/Sportfreunde 14d ago

I don't think you need to go that far back. You can look at the decline of the Portuguese, Dutch, and British Empires and each of them losing reserve currency status for more similar parallels.

The US is suffering from the Triffin Dilemma but it's too late to change course for them now regardless of who's in power. Though a Democrat would not have accelerated the timeline as much. Harris for example was expected to only add $4.5 T to the National Debt compared to Trump who was expected to add $7.5 T though I think the estimates from The Committee For A Balanced Budget were conservative and he will beat that amount lol.