>It's almost like there was a Republican-policy-created crisis that called for massive spending in his term.

As an European it's pretty funny to read this thread. "Your party debt was reckless and incompetent. My party debt was necessary and caused by your party anyway". Seriously, having just two parties looks like nightmare for democracy.

Having said that, before I get crucified as a centrist, there are bad and worse, and Trump is clearly worse.

The level of debt is an issue when the revenue doesn't cover the spending, leading to a budget deficit. Obama reduced the deficit even after he increased the debt. Trump increased the debt and reduced the revenue widening the deficit. That's not the same thing.