Image Credentials: Image Title: TRUMP TARIFFS SPARK BILLIONAIRE’S WARNING OF ‘ECONOMIC NUCLEAR WAR’ Source: AI-Generated Image (Grok, xAI) Date: April 2025 Attribution: Created by AI-generated imagery (Grok, xAI), and it does not depict a real-world scene.
Investor Bill Ackman slams sweeping import duties, urges White House to rethink global trade strategy
By Staff Writer with Agencies
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Billionaire hedge fund manager and former Trump supporter Bill Ackman issued a stark warning Monday, claiming that the United States is on the verge of triggering an “economic nuclear war” following President Donald Trump’s sweeping new tariffs on global imports.
In a strongly worded statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Ackman, a long-time investor and influential voice on Wall Street, condemned the 10% base tariff announced last week by the White House, calling it a reckless policy that could lead to lasting global economic damage.
🚨 Bill Ackman warns of an “economic nuclear winter” triggered by Trump’s sweeping tariffs. “Confidence in America as a trading partner is collapsing,” says the billionaire investor. S&P 500 down 9%, recession odds now at 60%. Do you think #Ackman is right?👇 #Economy #Tariffs 💰 pic.twitter.com/6RW9WejmES
— Two Blokes Trading (@TwoBlokesTrade) April 7, 2025
“By placing massive and disproportionate tariffs on our friends and our enemies alike and thereby launching a global economic war against the whole world at once, we are in the process of destroying confidence in our country as a trading partner,” Ackman wrote.
The new tariffs, which affect imports from over 180 countries, have already rattled global markets. China has responded with retaliatory duties of 34% on U.S. goods, escalating trade tensions and prompting warnings from economists and business leaders alike.
Ackman, who publicly supported Trump’s presidential campaign in 2024, now says the administration is playing a dangerous game with America’s economic future.
“Business is a confidence game,” he said. “And that confidence is being rapidly eroded. No CEO or board is going to make long-term investments amid an economic nuclear war.”
He further warned that consumer spending could grind to a halt, particularly hurting low-income Americans already grappling with inflation and rising costs. “This is not what we voted for,” he added.
Ackman argued that the U.S. should pursue targeted negotiations rather than blanket tariffs. “President Trump still has time to correct course,” he said. “Otherwise, we are heading for a self-induced economic nuclear winter—and we should start hunkering down.”
While the White House has defended the tariffs as necessary to rebalance trade and protect American jobs, critics say the move risks isolating the U.S. economically and undermining years of global trade diplomacy.
Staff Writers at Open Chronicle produce in-depth, field-informed reporting on defense, diplomacy, cultural transformation, and global affairs. Known for clarity, accuracy, and analytical depth, they connect breaking developments to broader historical and strategic contexts. In addition to frontline journalism, Staff Writers also contribute to the Open Chronicle Encyclopedia, crafting authoritative entries that preserve critical knowledge and enrich public understanding.