At the annual shareholder meeting of Berkshire Hathaway in Omaha, Nebraska, billionaire investor Warren Buffett issued a clear message to the US government, warning that trade should not be used as a weapon. His remarks come amid growing global concerns about the impact of US tariffs on international economic stability.
“There is no question that trade can be an act of war,” said Buffett, without naming anyone directly. However, his comments were seen as a pointed response to former President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff strategies during his administration.
Buffett emphasized the importance of global cooperation and urged Washington to continue open trade with the rest of the world. He noted that trade allows each country to do what it does best, resulting in mutual growth and prosperity.
He rejected the idea that one nation’s economic success must come at the expense of another. “The more prosperous the rest of the world becomes, it won’t be at our expense; the more prosperous we’ll become, and the safer we’ll feel,” he said.
Buffett also warned against the dangers of alienating the global community, saying it is unwise for a country to offend billions while boasting of its own achievements. “It’s a big mistake, in my view, when you have seven and a half billion people that don’t like you very well, and you got 300 million that are crowing in some way about how well they’ve done,” he added.
This isn’t the first time Buffett has spoken out against tariffs. In an earlier interview, he compared tariffs to taxes on goods and dismissed the idea that they were harmless sources of revenue, saying, “The Tooth Fairy doesn’t pay ’em!”
Despite the political tone of his remarks, Buffett also touched on the financial side. Berkshire Hathaway reported first-quarter profits of $9.6 billion, a 14 percent drop from the previous year.
At 94, Buffett continues to lead one of the world’s most valuable conglomerates, transforming Berkshire Hathaway from a textile company into a trillion-dollar empire with $300 billion in liquid assets.
His clarity, candor, and long-standing success continue to make his voice one of the most respected in global financial circles.
