🚨 US national debt has surged more than 170% since 2011. 🇺🇸 2011: $14.79 trillion 🇺🇸 2026: $40.13 trillion That’s more than $25 trillion added in just 15 years. But why does that matter to everyday Americans? 👇 💸 More debt means more interest to pay. As the debt pile grows, servicing it can consume more government revenue. 📈 Higher borrowing needs can put pressure on interest rates and make mortgages, loans and other forms of credit more expensive. 💵 And ultimately, someone has to carry the cost. Governments face choices around taxes, spending and borrowing that can affect households and the wider economy. ⚠️ $40 trillion is the headline. How quickly America got there, and the long-term cost of carrying it, may be the bigger story.