GOP Megadonor Ken Griffin Says Trump Is Bad for America’s Brand: ‘Can Be a Lifetime to Repair the Damage’ | Video

The president’s trade war “has devolved into a nonsensical place,” the billionaire Citadel CEO says

Gina Chon, Ken Griffin
Citadel CEO Ken Griffin speaks with Semafor Senior Editor Gina Chon at the Semafor World Economy Summit n April 23, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Credit: Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)

CEO Citadel Ken Griffin, a former GOP megadonor who voted for President Trump, said on Wednesday that the president’s trade wars are “nonsensical” and have already hurt the country’s “brand.”

“The United States was more than just a nation. It’s a brand. It’s a universal brand. Whether it’s our culture, our financial strength, our military strength, America rose beyond just being a country,” Griffin said Wednesday at Semafor’s World Economy Summit in Washington, D.C.

He warned that Trump’s trade tariffs are “eroding that brand right now.” He added that “no brand came close” to the U.S. treasury market, until now.

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