President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” will determine the outlook for our nation's deficits and debt for years to come. Estimates suggest that the bill will increase our already enormous federal debt over the next 10 years by anywhere between $3 trillion to $4 trillion. Perhaps even more.

Even after such a costly bill is passed and signed, however, there is an opportunity for bold presidential leadership. Trump can reverse the highly dangerous direction of fiscal policy. He can still build a Congressional and national consensus for future fiscal restraint which could curb and reverse the nation's runaway debt, if not right away than in the coming years.

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The current bill may be too far along to reverse its continuation of the seemingly endless stream of bloated deficits and debt increases of recent decades by both parties. But Trump is demonstrably a man of surprises. Now is a good time for a constructive surprise. Following in the footsteps of President Dwight Eisenhower, Trump should encourage Congress to pass budgets that meet essential national needs and still demonstrate fiscal responsibility.

To achieve true fiscal responsibility, the goal would be to reverse, or at least stabilize, the mushrooming of federal debt over the course of this decade and beyond, as well as to put Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid on a sound financial footing so beneficiaries can rely on them for the long-term. This might seem like a pipe dream, but there are precedents for such leadership.

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In this respect, President Trump would do well to be guided by the example of Eisenhower, who by several of his own bold decisions played a major role in making America Great—strong militarily and strong financially.

Read more: The Budget Bill’s Big Consequences

Ike was no stranger to strategic decisions. As General Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, he planned and oversaw the implementation of the overall strategy of the War in Europe. And he alone........

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