Billionaire investor Bill Ackman issued stark warnings about President Trump’s escalating tariff strategy, urging a pause to avoid economic catastrophe, but his appeals appear to have fallen on deaf ears. Ackman, founder of Pershing Square Capital Management, argued that imposing “massive and disproportionate tariffs” on allies and adversaries alike risks triggering a global trade war, undermining America’s reputation as a reliable partner, and causing a “self-induced, economic nuclear winter”. He called for a 90-day suspension of reciprocal tariff actions to allow negotiations, emphasizing that “there remains an opportunity for a truce before millions are adversely affected”.
Despite these pleas, the Trump administration immediately dismissed rumors of a potential 90-day tariff halt as “fake news” on April 7. The president has doubled down on tariffs as a tool to revive domestic manufacturing and address trade imbalances, recently threatening a 50% tariff on Chinese imports unless Beijing withdraws retaliatory measures. European leaders have proposed a “zero-for-zero” tariff deal to de-escalate tensions, but the U.S. has yet to engage substantively.
Ackman’s warnings highlight fears that Trump’s approach could paralyze business investment, reduce consumer spending, and trigger widespread layoffs. While the investor maintains long-term confidence in America’s resilience—evidenced by his billion-dollar stakes in companies like Nike and Uber—his stark analogy of an “economic winter” underscores the high-stakes gamble of the current trade policy. With retaliatory tariffs already announced by China and the EU, the situation remains volatile, though no concrete signs of a Trump reversal have emerged despite Wall Street’s concerns.
