Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question
Has Donald Trump been a good president?
Position‹2 of 2
No, Donald Trump is a bad president
Argument‹3 of 3

Trump has driven up the national debt

During Trump's presidency the American debt has drastically increased.

The argument

Donald Trump ran for election on a promise to reduce the national debt. However, on his watch the national debt has spiraled out of control, rising by $3 trillion in just three years. Under Trump the federal deficit has also grown to the fifth-highest level in U.S. history. Trump's tax cuts have led to lower corporation tax receipts for the Treasury and he has increased spending, particularly on the military, without raising taxes to pay for it.

Premises

[P1]Proponents note that although Trump ran on reducing the national debt, it rose by $3 trillion in three years on his watch and the federal deficit grew to the fifth-highest level in US history. [P2] They attribute this to his tax cuts lowering corporation-tax receipts while he increased spending, especially on the military, without raising taxes to pay for it. [C] Because he drove up the national debt despite promising the opposite, proponents argue Donald Trump is a bad president.

Counter-arguments

Prior to the current COVID-19 related global recession, the USA economy under Donald Trump's presidency was considered at its strongest since the 2008 Financial Crisis. In January 2020 unemployment figures in the USA were at a half a century low and unemployment amongst African-Americans and Hispanic Americans in September 2019 hit the lowest point since records began. Under Trump the US Stock Market hit record highs responding to his administration's tax cuts and business friendly policies. The US Stock Market closed out 2019 with record gains for key US Stocks including the Dow Jones being up by 23 per cent, the S&P 500 index up by 29 per cent, and the Nasdaq Composite up by 36 per cent .

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P2] Trump has been good for the economy.