Transcript: Scott Bessent on The National Debt Crosses $40 Trillion Months Ahead of Schedule — Driven in Part by the Tariff Revenue the Supreme Court Took Away — and the Treasury Secretary Says "There's Nothing Magic About the $40 Trillion Number" — WhatDidTheySay?

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Scott Bessent

Secretary of the Treasury (SC)

Aug 20, 2026

“
There’s nothing magic about the $40 trillion number, and we can grow our way out of that. Global growth is the way to take care of this mountain of debt.

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CNBC Exclusive Transcript: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks with CNBC’s Sara Eisen on "Squawk on the Street," August 20, 2026.

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The National Debt Crosses $40 Trillion Months Ahead of Schedule — Driven in Part by the Tariff Revenue the Supreme Court Took Away — and the Treasury Secretary Says "There's Nothing Magic About the $40 Trillion Number" →