'Act of war': Warren Buffett is rocking financial world with a new Trump warning

 sounded the alarm about President Donald Trump's steep new tariffs during the company's annual shareholder media.

Buffett, according to Forbes, told attendees that "trade should not be a weapon" for the United States, which "should be looking to trade with the rest of the world." And he described tariffs as "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."

Buffett's comments are drawing plenty of responses on X, formerly Twitter.

Joe Wiggins tweeted, "Warren Buffett has issued a massive warning on the dangers of protectionism, arguing that trade should not be used as a political weapon and calling tariffs 'an act of war' that can lead to damaging consequences."

Quasar Markets said of Buffett, "He warns that protectionism is a strategic error — risking U.S. prosperity and global goodwill. Tariffs = economic warfare Markets = stabilized only after a 90-day pause Buffett's holding cash ($347B!) His moves say it all. Global cooperation > economic isolation…. Buffett's stance: Strong anti-tariff; believes trade promotes mutual prosperity and security. Direct jab at Trump's policy: Though not by name, he critiques the administration's 'weaponization' of trade. Tariff shockwave: Trump’s 145% tariff on Chinese goods, countered by China’s 125% levy, rattled markets. Buffett’s defensive posture: 10 straight quarters of stock selling; record $347B cash pile signals caution. Market read: Investors are watching Berkshire as a macro bellwether — this speech confirms major concern over trade friction."

X user Pramod Sharma wrote, "Warren Buffett, the sage of sensible economics, just eviscerated Trump's reckless trade wars, calling tariffs a 'big mistake' and warning they sabotage growth. Meanwhile, Trump's chaotic policies tank markets, strangle businesses, and betray Buffett's wisdom: 'Trade should not be a weapon.' Yet the fraud in Mar-a-Logo keeps wielding it like a club, proving he's an economic illiterate whose tariffs are self-inflicted wounds on America."

Another X user, Art Candee, commented, "Warren Buffett, billionaire chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, on Donald Trump's tariffs: Tariffs are 'an act of war, to some degree.' Over time, they are a tax on goods. I mean, the Tooth Fairy doesn't pay 'em!' Spot on, as usual.""Warren Buffett has been such a great investor because he understands human psychology so well," Krassenstein posted. "He also gets the psychological effects that Tariffs have on people, leaders and other nations."