Why is the US’ credit rating so exceptional despite the amount of debt it takes on?

Question

I’m a United States citizen. Moody gives the US a AA+ credit rating (it was downgraded from AAA in 2011).

How can this be, despite the substantial amount of debt the US holds that only continues to grow?

Is it GDP, defense capabilities, the dollar being the de facto currency almost worldwide? A combination of these? Or is there another huge factor(s) I am missing?

In: 54

Answer 1

1) US is good at paying it’s debts.

2) US debt is denominated in US dollars. Whatever happens to the US dollars internationally, 1 dollar still pays off 1 dollar of debt.

3) Historically it see isn’t /that/ large. As I recall Great Britain ran a debt over 200% GDP for over a century.