Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, has sparked concern over President Donald Trump’s new tariffs during the company’s annual shareholder media.
Buffett argued that trade should not be used as a political weapon and that tariffs are “an act of war, to some degree.” Some economists fear that Trump’s trade war will lead to a weakening of the U.S. dollar, but Buffett said, “We wouldn’t want to be owning anything in a currency we really thought was going to hell.”
Quasar Markets praised Buffett for his warning on the dangers of protectionism and called tariffs a strategic error. Buffett’s stance is strong anti-tariff, believing trade promotes mutual prosperity and security.
He also critiqued the administration’s ‘weaponization’ of trade, with Trump’s 145% tariff on Chinese goods countered by China’s 125% levy.
Buffett’s defensive posture, including 10 straight quarters of stock selling and a record $347B cash pile, signals caution and confirms major concern over trade friction.
X user Pramod Sharma commented on Buffett’s criticism of Trump’s reckless trade wars, calling tariffs a ‘big mistake’ and warning they sabotage growth.
Art Candee commented on Buffett’s statement, while Ed Krassenstein of KrassenCast noted that Buffett came out against Trump’s tariffs in a major way, understanding the psychological effects that tariffs have on people, leaders, and other nations.
