President Trump, who campaigned on reducing the nation's debt, faces a fiscal picture that has continued to deteriorate under his watch. The national debt soared to $40 trillion this week as the Iran war grinds on with no clear end in sight.
Clip: Trump shrugs off $40T national debt after vowing he'd cut it
Aug. 21, 2026 AT 9:03 p.m. EDT
FROM THIS EPISODE
Clip: As national debt climbs, Trump gives Washington a makeover
The national debt reached a staggering new high of $40 trillion this week. It continues to pile on at a pace that is increasingly difficult to ignore. All the while, Trump has seemed preoccupied with helipads, ballrooms, flagpoles and landscaping.
Full Episode: Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, 8/21/26
Full Washington Week with the Atlantic broadcast from August 21, 2026.
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