That's using the abnormally large deficit in 2009 caused by the bank bailout as the starting point. The deficits even at the end of his second term were larger

That's using the abnormally large deficit in 2009 caused by the bank bailout as the starting point. The deficits even at the end of his second term were larger than the deficit in 2007 and about the same as 2008. https://www.thebalance.com/us-deficit-by-year-3306306 https://www.thebalance.com/us-deficit-by-year-3306306