The Daily Populous Sunday May 4th, 2025 morning edition
Authored by thedailybeast.com and submitted by GonzoVeritas

Renowned investor Warren Buffett announced his resignation as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway only moments after bashing President Donald Trump’s tariffs as an “act of war” against allies.

“The time has arrived where Greg should become the chief executive officer of the company at year-end,” Buffett said when he dropped the bombshell, referring to Vice Chairman Greg Abel.

“And I want to spring that on the directors, effectively, and give that as my recommendation,” he added.

Buffett, who is worth over $165 billion, led the company for 60 years.

Warren Buffett is stepping down as CEO after 60 years of running the company. Daniel Zuchnik/Daniel Zuchnik/WireImage

Buffett, 94, has reached the end of the era after spending a large part of his life running one of the nation’s wealthiest companies. The veteran financial guru saved his shock declaration for the end of Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholder meeting, a days-long pilgrimage that’s often referred to as “Woodstock for Capitalists” and draws up to 100,000 people per year.

Buffett said his departure would be news to the company’s board, which is gathering Sunday to discuss the transition.

“I would still hang around and could conceivably be useful in a few cases,” he said. “But the final word would be Greg’s.”

Warren Buffett Saturday slammed President Donald Trump for his trade war. Win McNamee/Win McNamee/Getty Images

Buffett took time during the meeting to slam Trump for his harsh trade war.

“I don’t think it’s right, and I don’t think it’s wise,” he said. “There is no question that trade can be an act of war, and I think it’s led to bad things, just the attitudes it’s brought out.”

Buffett also told the crowd that “trade should not be a weapon.”

“It’s a big mistake, in my view, when you have 7.5 billion people that don’t like you very well, and you’ve got 300 million that are crowing in some way about how well they’ve done,” he added.

President Donald Trump has received backlash from investors, international leaders, and even members of his own staff for his harsh "reciprocal" tariffs. Anna Moneymaker/Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Buffett went on to rip the president’s callous remarks that international allies are “screwing” the American people.

Trump’s “America First” trade war has imposed tariffs as high as 145 percent on other countries and led to major swings in the newly-unstable market.

“I do not think it’s a great idea to try and design a world where a few countries say, ‘Ha ha ha, we’ve won,’ and other countries are envious,” Buffett said. “The more prosperous [the world becomes] and the safer we’ll feel, and your children will feel one day.”

Buffett became CEO of Berkshire Hathaway in 1970. He transformed the company from a New England textile mill to a massive conglomerate. As a result of Buffett’s investor success, he’s become one of the world’s richest men.

Buffett is often called the “Oracle” or Sage" of Omaha—where he was born—for accumulating such massive wealth. He’s pledged to give away 99 percent of it to philanthropic causes, primarily via the Gates Foundation.

In 2010, with philanthropist Bill Gates, Buffett founded the Giving Pledge to encourage other billionaires to give away at least half of their fortunes.

bootlegvader on May 3rd, 2025 at 23:41 UTC »

All I know Warren Buffet is richer than Trump, so by Republican logic that means God loves him more.

jcouball on May 3rd, 2025 at 20:02 UTC »

Harsh words isn’t what I had in mind as a “takedown”. People who value Buffet’s opinion probably already don’t like Trump’s tariff flailing.

GonzoVeritas on May 3rd, 2025 at 19:52 UTC »

Excerpt:

> Buffett took time during the meeting to slam Trump for his harsh trade war.

> “I don’t think it’s right, and I don’t think it’s wise,” he said. “There is no question that trade can be an act of war, and I think it’s led to bad things, just the attitudes it’s brought out.”

> Buffett also told the crowd that “trade should not be a weapon.”

> “It’s a big mistake, in my view, when you have 7.5 billion people that don’t like you very well, and you’ve got 300 million that are crowing in some way about how well they’ve done,” he added.

> President Donald Trump has received backlash from investors, international leaders, and even members of his own staff for his harsh "reciprocal" tariffs.

> Buffett went on to rip the president’s callous remarks that international allies are “screwing” the American people.

> Trump’s “America First” trade war has imposed tariffs as high as 145 percent on other countries and led to major swings in the newly-unstable market.

> “I do not think it’s a great idea to try and design a world where a few countries say, ‘Ha ha ha, we’ve won,’ and other countries are envious,” Buffett said. “The more prosperous [the world becomes] and the safer we’ll feel, and your children will feel one day.”