Majority of Americans fear president-elect Donald Trump’s policies could increase US debt: Poll

A majority of Americans are concerned that President-elect Donald Trump's policies will lead to a rise in the national debt during his new term, according to a recent poll.

The poll, which was conducted by news agency Reuters, surveyed 1,471 adult American citizens.

The two-day poll, which concluded on Thursday, found that 62 per cent of respondents believe Trump's policies are likely to push the US debt higher. The concerns are especially pronounced among Democrats, with 94 per cent expressing worry, while only 34 per cent of Republicans share similar concerns.

Trump's fiscal agenda includes significant tax cuts for businesses, workers, and Social Security beneficiaries, along with higher tariffs on imported goods and mass deportations for immigrants.

If Republicans win control of both chambers of Congress, they will have the power to implement these policies, which could potentially clash with the party's long-standing goal of reducing the $35 trillion national debt.

Trump's proposed tax cuts could add $7.5 trillion to the US debt over the next decade, according to the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Despite these projections, Republicans argue that Trump's tax cuts have spurred economic growth and increased federal tax receipts since 2017, which they believe will continue under his current agenda.

However, the federal deficit surged to $1.833 trillion in fiscal 2024, driven largely by interest payments on the debt, which exceeded $1 trillion for the first time.

While 89 per cent of Democrats voiced concerns over the fiscal impact of Trump’s policies, only 19 per cent of Republicans expressed similar worries.

In the recently concluded US presidential elections, Donald Trump emerged victorious and assured his return to the White House by defeating Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.