Ken Griffin, who is the founder and CEO of Citadel, was speaking at the Semafor World Economy Summit 2025 at Conrad Washington in Washington, DC on April 23, 2025. “America is not just a nation, it’s like a brand or something,” said Griffin, expressing his concern about the impact of Trump’s trade policies on the country’s reputation. He mentioned that the U.S. was once an ideal for many around the world, but now that image is fading, which is not good, according to him.
Trump’s recent tariffs caused a lot of chaos in the financial markets, leading to increased Treasury yields and a weaker dollar. Griffin, who had more than $65 billion in assets under management at the start of 2025, criticized Trump’s approach to trade, calling it “bombastic.” He emphasized the importance of protecting and strengthening a brand, especially in the financial markets, and warned about the long-lasting effects of damaging it.
It’s hard to say whether Griffin’s warning will have any impact on Trump’s policies, but it’s clear that he feels strongly about the potential harm to the country’s image. The financial markets are volatile, and investors are looking for safe havens beyond the U.S. Treasury market. Griffin’s concerns are valid, but only time will tell if they are taken seriously by those in power.
