As an expert in economic and financial studies, I can provide an overview of the United States' national debt. It's a complex and evolving topic that involves a range of economic indicators and fiscal policies. The national debt of the United States is the total public debt held by the federal government, which includes both the debt held by the public and intragovernmental holdings.

The debt held by the public refers to the portion of the national debt that is owned by individuals, corporations, state or local governments, the Federal Reserve, and other entities outside the federal government. This is often considered a more direct measure of the debt that the government owes to external parties.

Intragovernmental holdings, on the other hand, represent the portion of the national debt that is owed to government accounts, such as Social Security trust funds, federal employee retirement funds, and other government programs. This is essentially the government owing money to itself, which can be thought of as internal debt.

As of January 26, 2016, the debt held by the public was reported to be $13.62 trillion, which constituted about 75% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from the previous 12 months. The intragovernmental holdings at that time were $5.34 trillion. When these two figures are combined, they give a total gross national debt of $18.96 trillion, which was about 104% of the GDP from the previous 12 months.

It's important to note that these figures are from 2016 and the national debt has continued to change since then. The U.S. national debt is influenced by a variety of factors, including economic growth, tax revenues, government spending, and interest rates. It's also affected by legislative actions such as budget resolutions, spending bills, and changes to the debt ceiling.

To get the most current figures for the U.S. national debt, one would typically refer to the U.S. Department of the Treasury's website or other reliable financial databases that provide up-to-date information. It's also crucial to understand that while the national debt is a significant fiscal metric, it is just one aspect of the broader economic health of the nation.

The national debt is a topic of much debate among economists and policymakers. Some argue that a certain level of debt is necessary to finance public investments that can stimulate economic growth, while others caution about the potential risks associated with high levels of debt, such as increased interest payments and the potential for crowding out private investment.

In conclusion, understanding the U.S. national debt requires a nuanced approach that considers both the current figures and the broader economic context. It's a dynamic issue that is subject to change based on a range of economic and political factors.

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On January 26, 2016, debt held by the public was $13.62 trillion or about 75% of the previous 12 months of GDP. Intragovernmental holdings stood at $5.34 trillion, giving a combined total gross national debt of $18.96 trillion or about 104% of the previous 12 months of GDP.read more >>