Trump says US worth "hundreds of trillions"

U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that America’s natural resources and national assets are worth “hundreds of trillions of dollars,” arguing that the country’s growing national debt should be viewed in relation to its broader balance sheet.

In comments reported by Fortune following an interview at the White House, Trump said assets such as the Grand Canyon and surrounding oceans should be factored into an overall valuation of the United States, claiming that by this measure the country remains “way under-levered” even with debt approaching $40 trillion.

“If you put down the value of these things, it’s like hundreds of trillions of dollars,” Trump said, adding that the U.S. should consider its asset base when assessing fiscal sustainability.

The remarks come as the administration continues to explore greater government involvement in strategic industries, including proposals for the state to take equity stakes in major American companies as part of broader industrial policy.

Trump cited discussions with corporate leaders, including Intel’s chief executive, in which he floated the idea of the U.S. government taking a 10% ownership stake in the chipmaker, describing such arrangements as beneficial for both the state and industry.

Critics have previously raised concerns that direct equity participation by the federal government in private firms could blur lines between state and market, while supporters argue it could strengthen domestic supply chains in critical sectors such as semiconductors.

By Aghakazim Guliyev