Basic economics question about the US economy

Hello, I have not really studied economics, but I am trying to get a better understanding of the field so I can make more informed decisions about who to vote for and how policy decisions will affect the economy and the country as a whole. So to start off with a basic question: <br>The US is usually thought of as the wealthiest large country in the world, and has a very strong economy. But the country is hugely in debt. My understanding is that the US government spends much more than it earns in tax revenue. If the government is operating at a loss, how is the country as a whole not operating at a huge loss as well? What am I missing here?