Since being reelected, President Donald Trump has falsely claimed his tariffs will reduce the national debt. The deals have been justified as a way to protect America's economic and national security interests, and the Lithium Americas announcement is no different. The national debt currently stands at over $30 trillion held by the public. At the end of the day, he adds, this deal has less to do with addressing the national debt and "everything to do with exercising more control over private businesses." Arguing that a government stake in an already federally backed project will shrink the national debt could be its weakest argument yet.