US debt has hit $40tn - Will that be a wake-up call?

The United States national debt exceeded $40 trillion, up from just under $20 trillion in 2016, and now increases by roughly $90,000 per second ($7.8 billion daily). Interest payments rose 15% year-over-year, consuming about 20% of tax revenue and nearing the $41.1 trillion debt ceiling. Forecasts project the debt reaching $64 trillion by 2036. Economists note the U.S. benefits from its reserve-currency status, but higher rates are raising borrowing costs and could strain bond markets.