Fact Check: Will Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' increase national debt by trillions of dollars?

WASHINGTON, DC: The GOP-led US Senate approved President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" on Tuesday, July 1, by the narrowest of margins, as Vice President JD Vance broke the 50-50 tie.

It now heads to the House of Representatives, where it would face unified Democratic opposition, and several GOP members balking at slashed health care and food aid programs for poor Americans.

Amid this, a rumor circulated online claiming that the bill would add "$3.9 trillion to the national debt". But is there any truth to this? Let's find out below.

Claim: Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' will increase national debt by trillions of dollars

As Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" was approved by the Republican-led Senate on Tuesday, a rumor circulated across the social media platform X claiming that Trump's bill will increase national debt by trillions of dollars.

An X page @RpsAgainstTrump posted, "The New York Times reports that Senator Lisa Murkowski voted to advance Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” which adds $3.9 trillion to the national debt and cuts healthcare for millions of working people, only after securing special carveouts for Alaska, including exemptions from food stamp cuts, health perks, and tax breaks for fishermen."

The post added, "This is how corrupt Washington works. Each senator gets their bribe to fall in line. Disgraceful."

Similarly, another X page @CalltoActivism posted, "MAJOR BREAKING: After midnight, the non-partisan CBO is out with its official projections: The Senate version of Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill will add over $3.9 TRILLION to the national debt. They’re not shrinking government. They’re burning it to the ground."

The claim made in online posts is true

The claim by X users that the CBO found Trump's budget bill would add trillions of dollars to the national debt over the next 10 years is true, Snopes reported.

However, the numbers in those reports change as legislators workshop and amend the bill, the fact-checking outlet reported.

On June 18, the CBO's report found the bill would increase the federal debt by about $2.8 trillion over the next 10 years.

Meanwhile, the CBO released data on the Senate's version of the bill on June 29, showing it would increase the federal debt by about $3.3 trillion over the next 10 years.

The federal government's budget surplus is calculated by subtracting the government's expenditure in a given year from the amount of money it raises.

If the government spends more than it earns, the budget is in a deficit, as it has been since 2001.

Currently, the national debt is $36.21 trillion, according to the Treasury Department.

Heckler storms into Senate during heated debate

During the heated debate on the Senate floor over Trump’s "One Big Beautiful Bill" on June 29, independent Senator Bernie Sanders had just concluded his argument opposing Trump’s heavily promoted spending bill when a heckler interrupted the proceedings with loud screaming.

Sanders said, "This bill is not what the American people want, and I hope very much we can defeat it."

Meanwhile, as he walked off the podium, a livestream of the debate caught a muffled voice that became apparent. A heckler screamed, “You people are awful”. 

He added, "You’re awful. You’re awful", as Presiding Officer Sen Dave McCormick immediately ordered the sergeant at arms to "restore order in the gallery".

The heckler was heard shouting "You’re horrible", right before the chamber returned to silence.