Yes, the National Debt is a scarey number, but you have to put that into perspective.
Whether you listen to Dave Ramsey or Suze Ormond, you know that you need an emergency fund. Simply, you save money during prosperous years, so you have it when times are harder. This is also the role of government. During a good economy, the government (federal, state and local) should be building up a fund, because when the economy goes down, they are going to need it. And at the top of the pyramid is the Federal government who hands out money to those in need.
However, politicians have forgotten basic economics. During and after the Great Depression, a lot of money was spent by the government to help the economy. You heard of the CCC, WPA, right? Hoover Dam was paid for by the Federal government and was a job creator and economic boost to that portion of the nation. Anyway, National Debt skyrocketed up to 120% of the Gross Domestic Product at that time. Over time, the economy improved and steadily declined through every administration up to and including Carter when it was down to 30%.
Then enter Reagan and Bush1, who doubled the debt to 60%. Clinton brought it down a little but then Bush2 came along and increased it to nearly 80%. When this serious "recession" hit, there was no reserve, and spending was necessary to avoid a total collapse. Today the debt is now at 100% of GDP.
I'm not going to say what would have happened if the Reagan, Bush1, and Bush2 had been fiscally responsible presidents. I think that is evident. But to blame the current president for the current economic situation is not fair.
Our debt is not as bad as it was in 1940, it will get better. But, I'm skeptical when Republicans say they are going to bring down debt because that is not how they have acted in the past. Maybe I should say "recent past".
(I voted for Reagan.)