America’s national debt plan is ‘clearly not in order,’ says Ken Griffin—he believes part of the problem is Europeans who ‘don’t want to go to work’

Citadel CEO Ken Griffin has expressed his concerns about America's staggering $40 trillion national debt burden, stating that the issue cannot be solved solely in Washington D.C. The Treasury recently confirmed a $2 trillion deficit for the fiscal year 2026, with more than half of that deficit coming from interest rate payments to service the existing debt.

Griffin believes that the United States' fiscal problems extend beyond its own borders, as he criticized European nations for their reluctance to work harder and grow their own economies.

The CEO, speaking at a Citadel Securities Future of Global Markets event in New York, argued that the U.S. should prioritize economic growth and productivity to better balance government borrowing versus income. Griffin emphasized that "we really need to play the productivity card as hard as we can" and that "in order of what priorities need to be, grow the damn economy."

Additionally, he urged European nations to increase their economic output, suggesting that countries like France, which have strict labor laws limiting weekly working hours, should have their citizens return to work to contribute to their economy.

Griffin's comments on increased working hours and economic growth have been met with some skepticism, as studies show that higher productivity is not always directly correlated with longer work hours. For instance, Norway's GDP per capita is nearly $99,000 with employees working an average of 1,412 hours per year, while the U.S., with a GDP per capita of roughly $73,000, has employees working an average of 1,789 hours annually.

Griffin's remarks have also been linked to the ongoing debate over defense spending within the G7 nations, with President Trump advocating for increased military funding.

While U.S. allies may need to grow their economies, Griffin's suggestions for improving the American fiscal situation extend beyond the actions of allied nations. He proposed focusing on technologies such as data centers, nuclear fusion, and robotics to drive productivity and economic growth. Griffin also emphasized the importance of education and immigration policy, suggesting that attracting top talent from around the world to the United States could be instrumental in unlocking further economic growth.