Its a common and effective talking point, but not true. Below is a comparison of the 2000 vs. 2026 federal budget. Tax cuts have totalled 2% of GDP (unrelated economic factors also reduced revenues). But spending has jumped 5.7% of GDP since 2000. Lots of blame to go around.

Senator Patty Murray

@pattymurray · Twitter · 2026-08-21 14:14 UTC

REMINDER: The single biggest driver of our national debt for the last 25 YEARS have been Republican-led tax cuts.