New analysis suggests national debt could increase under Harris, but it would surge under Trump

This combination photo shows Republican presidential nominee former president Donald Trump, left, and Democrat presidential nominee Kamala Harris, right, during an ABC News presidential debate at the National Constitution Center on Tuesday, Sept.10, 2024.
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump, left, and Democrat presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, right, during an ABC News presidential debate at the National Constitution Center on Tuesday, Sept.10, 2024. (Alex Brandon /Associated Press)

No one is likely to be happy with the projected higher deficits laid out in a new analysis of Kamala Harris’ and Donald Trump’s economic plans.

The analysis released Monday by the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget suggests a Harris presidency could increase the national debt over 10 years by $3.5 trillion. That’s even though the vice president’s campaign insists her proposed investments in the middle class and housing would be fully offset by higher taxes on corporations and the wealthy. Her campaign policy guide states that Harris is “committed to fiscal responsibility — making investments that will support our economy, while paying for them and reducing the deficit at the same time.”

The same analysis says former President Trump’s ideas could heap another $7.5 trillion onto the debt and possibly as much as $15.2 trillion. That’s even though he suggests growth would be so strong under his watch that no one would need to worry about deficits.