During which presidency did the national debt increase from $10 trillion to $18 trillion?

The national debt increased significantly during Barack Obama's presidency, primarily due to several factors including the effects of the Great Recession, economic stimulus packages, and increasing government spending on healthcare and social programs. When Obama took office in January 2009, the national debt was around $10 trillion. By the time he left office in January 2017, the national debt had risen to approximately $20 trillion. This increase highlights the impact of economic conditions and federal budget decisions during his administration.

In contrast, during Bill Clinton's presidency, the national debt actually saw reductions on a percentage basis due to budget surpluses. While George W. Bush did oversee a substantial increase in the national debt (partly due to tax cuts and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan), the specific increase from $10 trillion to $18 trillion aligns more closely with Barack Obama's presidency, as the debt trajectory reached and surpassed that level under his tenure. The express rise from $10 trillion to $18 trillion is specifically tied to the fiscal impacts during the eight years of Obama’s administration.