Business
Bill Ackman Urges Trump to Pause Trade War: ‘This Is Not What We Voted For’
By Jake Beardslee · April 6, 2025
Ackman Sounds Alarm on Trump’s Tariff Agenda
Billionaire investor Bill Ackman, once a vocal supporter of Donald Trump, has issued a stark warning against the president’s sweeping tariff plans, urging a strategic pause to avoid catastrophic economic consequences.Ackman, founder of Pershing Square Capital Management, took to social media platform X to express deep concerns over Trump's new tariff policies, which have already shaken global markets. While he praised Trump for raising awareness about unfair trade practices, he claimed that the current approach is dangerously misguided. The White House / Wikimedia
"Business is a Confidence Game": Ackman Warns of Economic Fallout
“Business is a confidence game,” Ackman wrote. “The president is losing the confidence of business leaders around the globe. The consequences… are going to be severely negative,” particularly for “low-income consumers who are already under a huge amount of economic stress.” @BillAckman / X
From Supporter to Critic: Ackman Questions Trump's Trade Strategy
While acknowledging that the nation is “100%” behind the idea of correcting imbalanced trade deals, Ackman criticized Trump for launching a blanket trade war that includes both allies and adversaries. “We are in the process of destroying confidence in our country as a trading partner, as a place to do business, and as a market to invest capital,” he cautioned. Kaboompics.com / Pexels
A Call for Pause: Proposing a 90-Day Tariff Timeout
Ackman proposed a “90-day time out” from the tariff escalation to allow negotiations that could lead to fairer trade arrangements and potentially spark “trillions of dollars of new investment in our country.” He warned of the alternative: “If instead we launch an economic nuclear war on every country in the world, business investment will grind to a halt, consumers will close their wallets and pocket books, and we will severely damage our reputation with the rest of the world.” Markus Winkler / Pexels
Investment Uncertainty: Corporate Leaders Face Difficult Decisions
He questioned the willingness of corporate leaders to invest under such uncertain conditions, asking, “What CEO and what board of directors will be comfortable making large, long-term, economic commitments in our country in the middle of an economic nuclear war?” Vlada Karpovich / Pexels
Market Meltdown: Warnings of an Economic Domino Effect
Ackman didn’t mince words about the potential economic fallout, warning that a market crash could lead to slashed investments, halted consumer spending, and widespread layoffs. His warning comes as markets have fallen sharply for two consecutive days, and futures suggest further drops. Kaboompics.com / Pexels
The Price Problem: Why Businesses Can't Simply "Pass Through" Costs
He also pushed back against claims from Trump officials that rising prices can be easily absorbed, pointing out, “Almost no business can pass through an overnight massive increase in costs to their customers,” especially given the high levels of debt in the system. adrian vieriu / Pexels