US debt crosses $40 trillion, reviving Musk’s bankruptcy warning

US national debt has topped $40 trillion (about $32.3T held by the public), with persistent deficits and rising interest costs driving more borrowing. The Congressional Budget Office projects net interest payments to reach roughly $1 trillion in 2026 and about $2.1 trillion by 2036, with debt held by the public near 120% of GDP. While there’s no imminent default, commentators like Elon Musk warn of a potential ‘1000%’ debt scenario and a depreciating dollar, prompting investors to consider hedges such as gold and real estate (including gold IRAs and fractional real estate platforms) to protect wealth.