Richard Branson Criticizes Trump's Tariffs, Warns of Economic Damage

Sir Richard Branson has sharply criticized former President Donald Trump’s economic and foreign policies, describing his tariffs as 'erratic and unpredictable' and damaging to global business confidence. Branson expressed concern that Trump’s decisions, including imposing and then retracting tariffs, have created uncertainty for businesses, causing delays in investment and spending. He also singled out Trump’s stance on Ukraine, warning it could lead to American isolation and potentially destabilize Europe if the U.S. does not honor its commitments. Branson argued that these actions are driven by a small elite around Trump and do not reflect the views of most Americans, noting that many in the U.S. and abroad feel 'incredibly sad' about the direction of U.S. policy. He highlighted that Virgin’s own operations, especially its airline and cruise businesses, have been negatively affected by the unpredictable policy environment. Despite these challenges, Virgin Atlantic is maintaining its schedule and expanding routes but remains cautious given the uncertain outlook.