Sen. Joe Manchin
Sen. Joe Manchin Credit: AP

In an interview on Wednesday, Sen. Joe Manchin said, “By 2022, just the interest payment on our debt will be greater than the defense of our country.”

Our ruling

Manchin said, “By 2022, just the interest payment on our debt will be greater than the defense of our country.”

The closest official estimate we could find says that net interest will pass defense spending in 2023, or one year later than Manchin said. But using a different set of unofficial assumptions, it could be different.

We rate his statement Mostly True.

To read the full fact check, go to politifact.com.