Victor Davis Hanson: Trump Must Avoid These 3 ‘Civilization Killers’ When Tackling the National Debt

The Daily Signal
May 26, 2025
Victor Davis Hanson: Trump Must Avoid These 3 ‘Civilization Killers’ When Tackling the National Debt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fW0xQk-4KE
Donald Trump is the first U.S. President in over 30 years who is seriously talking about reducing the country’s budget deficit, trade deficit and yes, the national debt, which has ballooned to over $37 trillion.

However, he must follow a specific formula, otherwise, it will end in tragedy, argues Victor Davis Hanson on today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words:”

“Jermone Powell, the head of the Fed, will not lower interest rates even though there's been a good jobs report, a good inflation report, a good corporate profits report. GDP is gonna be evaluated, apparently, upward and there's been low energy cost. That mortgage is still 4.25% Fed rate to 4.5%. And that means mortgages are still 6.5%, 7%. And that housing market is slowing as a result.

“So, you've got to get that down. And the way Trump has to do it is just two ways: Either cut the budget or raise taxes—which will strangle the economy—or continue the tax cuts. And hope two things: that the tax cuts—the extension—will prime the economy, along with cheap interest rates.

And the question that we all have now: Is cutting taxes on tips, is cutting taxes on Social Security, is cutting taxes on first responder, etc.—all of which Trump has mentioned—is that really stimulus as opposed to, say, accelerated depreciation investment for businesses? I don't know the answer. But I do know, as a historian, that if you do not cut the deficit and the national debt and you have bond raters like Moody's or the Fed that will not lower interest rates, you're going to be in a crisis.”

00:00 Introduction: The Debt Crisis Unveiled
00:59 Moody's Downgrade and Economic Indicators
02:19 Trump's Fiscal Strategy: Promises and Challenges
05:10 Historical Lessons on Debt Management
06:57 Potential Solutions and Final Thoughts
07:59 Conclusion and Call to Action

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