Billionaire Bill Ackman Predicts President Trump Postpones Tariffs This Week: Here’s Why

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman has predicted that President Donald Trump will delay the implementation of threatened tariffs, citing pressure from global leaders and the need for more time to negotiate.

• Bill Ackman predicts Trump will postpone tariffs.
• Global leaders pressuring Trump to negotiate.
• Delay needed for negotiations and business adjustments.
• Unpostponed tariffs could lead to severe economic recession.
• Tariffs have harmed American workers and industries.

Bill Ackman, the sharp-witted CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, isn’t just another talking head in the financial world. His prediction, shared on the social platform X, has set the rumor mill into overdrive. Ackman believes that the complexity of resolving the tariff issues necessitates a delay, providing crucial time for negotiations and preventing a potential severe economic downturn. He stated, “I would therefore not be surprised to wake up Monday with an announcement from the President that he was postponing the implementation of the tariffs to give him time to make deals.”

The pressure cooker has been on high, with global leaders cranking up the heat. European officials have offered to drop tariffs on cars and industrial goods, while leaders from Israel, Vietnam, and Indonesia have been knocking at the U.S. door for negotiations. Ackman sees this as a clear sign that Trump’s tariff strategy has “gotten the attention of our trading partners and highlighted the need to fix unfair tariffs that have harmed American workers and decimated our industrial base over many decades.”

The stakes couldn’t be higher. The Yale Budget Lab’s recent report paints a grim picture if the tariffs go through as planned. They predict a rise in the U.S. average effective tariff rate—the average tax rate on imports—to 27% before consumer and business substitution, and 18.5% after. This would be the highest since 1903 and 1933, respectively, and would increase consumer prices by 2.9% in the short run, equating to a $4,700 loss of purchasing power per household. The report also forecasts a drop in U.S. real GDP growth by 1.1 percentage points in 2025, a rise in unemployment by 0.55 percentage points, and a reduction of 740,000 in payroll employment by year’s end. In Ackman’s view, “The risk of not doing so is that the massive increase in uncertainty drives the economy into a recession, potentially a severe one.”

The urgency to postpone the tariffs isn’t just about economics; it’s about giving businesses the breathing room to adjust their supply chains. Ackman emphasizes that a delay would allow for more effective solutions and preparations, mitigating the impact on American workers and industries that have been battered by the current tariff regime.

In a surprising twist, President Trump did indeed announce a 90-day pause on “reciprocal” tariffs for countries other than China, effective from April 9, 2025. The tariffs on China were raised to a staggering 125%, making the maximum rate on Chinese imports 145% when combined with existing tariffs. This move was met with a strong increase in risk assets, signaling a positive market response to the temporary reprieve.

The global economic impact of the tariffs is also noteworthy. According to the Yale report, Canada’s economy would shrink by 2.2% in the long run, while China’s would be 0.6% smaller. Meanwhile, the EU and UK economies might see slight increases of 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively. This global ripple effect underscores the interconnected nature of today’s economies and the far-reaching consequences of U.S. tariff policies.

With the tariff situation as it stands, the question remains: what will happen next? The pressure from global leaders, the economic forecasts, and Trump’s recent actions all point to a complex and volatile landscape. As Ackman and others watch closely, the world waits to see if the predicted postponement will indeed come to pass.

Let’s not forget the elephant in the room—bitcoin and cryptocurrency. While tariffs might seem distant from the world of digital currencies, their economic impact can ripple through financial markets, potentially affecting investor sentiment and market stability. A severe economic downturn could push more investors towards bitcoin as a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty. Moreover, the uncertainty caused by tariffs might increase the appeal of decentralized currencies, which operate outside traditional financial systems. However, it’s worth noting that cryptocurrencies are not immune to global economic trends and could also face volatility due to tariff-related economic shifts.

But let’s play devil’s advocate for a moment. What if Trump doesn’t postpone the tariffs? Some argue that a hardline stance could force quicker negotiations and concessions from trading partners, potentially leading to better deals for the U.S. Others suggest that the economic pain might be a necessary shock to spur domestic industries to innovate and compete more effectively on the global stage. And let’s not forget the unpredictability of Trump’s policy-making—sometimes, it’s like trying to predict the weather in a hurricane. Yet, the potential for a severe recession remains a significant risk, as Ackman warns.

Key Takeaways and Questions

• Will President Trump postpone the tariffs as predicted by Bill Ackman?

  Ackman believes that Trump will postpone the tariffs due to pressure from global leaders and the need for more time to negotiate.

• Why does Ackman believe a postponement is necessary?

  Ackman argues that resolving the tariff issues requires time for negotiations and to allow businesses to adjust their supply chains, preventing a potential severe economic recession.

• What are the potential economic consequences if the tariffs are not postponed?

  Ackman warns that not postponing the tariffs could lead to a severe economic recession due to increased uncertainty.

• How have tariffs affected American workers and industries according to Ackman?

  Ackman states that tariffs have harmed American workers and decimated the industrial base over many decades, necessitating a resolution to the tariff regime.

• What role do global leaders play in Ackman’s prediction?

  Global leaders are seen as pressuring Trump to negotiate deals or compromises, which Ackman believes could lead to a postponement of the tariffs.

• How might tariffs impact the cryptocurrency market?

  Tariffs could increase economic uncertainty, potentially driving more investment into bitcoin as a hedge, but also causing volatility in the crypto market due to global economic shifts.

• What are the counterpoints to postponing tariffs?

  Some argue that not postponing tariffs could force quicker negotiations and spur domestic innovation, though the risk of a severe recession remains significant.