Jamie Dimon warns that the $38 trillion national debt is 'not sustainable' and it's one of two 'tectonic plates' that may crash in the near future | Fortune

"Dimon, the longtime JPMorgan Chase chief who is widely regarded as the most influential banker in the world, has sharpened his criticism of U.S. fiscal policy as the gross national debt has surged to roughly $38.4 trillion. " You can't just keep borrowing money endlessly," he said in recent comments, warning the debt is " going to bite " at some point. He noted the government is adding approximately $2 trillion to that total every year and predicted it will exceed $40 trillion soon. Dimon was blunt with Rubenstein about the long-term viability of this spending: "It will not work eventually. I just don't know when that is.""

""Like most problems," Dimon said in September, "it's better to deal with it than let it happen." He has also described the U.S. as " going broke slowly" and compared the nation's fiscal trajectory to driving toward a cliff at 60 miles per hour, saying the danger is visible but policymakers are failing to hit the brakes. Federal borrowing has accelerated under both parties, with the Joint Economic Committee noting the debt has risen by an average of about $8 billion per day over the past year, pushing the burden to more than $112,000 per person. Budget analysts estimate interest payments alone are on track to top $1 trillion in fiscal 2026, crowding out other priorities and making it harder for future Congresses to respond to emergencies."

Ballooning U.S. national debt has surged to roughly $38.4 trillion and is rising by about $2 trillion annually, with federal borrowing averaging roughly $8 billion per day and a per-person burden exceeding $112,000. Interest payments are on track to top $1 trillion in fiscal 2026, crowding out other priorities and constraining future emergency responses. Bipartisan fiscal patterns have accelerated borrowing. The fiscal trajectory is not sustainable and risks a severe disruption to financial order if policymakers fail to slow deficits and rein in spending. Geopolitical volatility compounds fiscal stress, creating systemic vulnerability that could precipitate a crash.

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