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Jeffrey Sachs Slams Trump’s Trade Policies as “Childish, Delusional,” Blames U.S. Spending for Deficits

Renowned economist Jeffrey Sachs delivered a blistering critique of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies, branding them as “childish,” “delusional,” and economically reckless during a panel at the 4th Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey.

Speaking at the session titled “Protectionism: The End of Globalisation,” Sachs didn’t hold back in his condemnation, asserting that Trump’s approach to tariffs and trade ranks among the worst in modern U.S. history. He went as far as saying, “Even Mickey Mouse would know better,” referencing the former president’s misunderstanding of basic economic principles.

The forum, which brought together global leaders, diplomats, academics, and youth delegates under the theme “Reclaiming Diplomacy in a Fragmented World,” served as a platform for Sachs to issue a stern warning about the consequences of misguided protectionism.

Sachs specifically criticized the recent U.S. policy of imposing “reciprocal tariffs” on nearly 100 countries, including Nigeria and China. He argued that America’s trade deficit is not the fault of foreign nations but a result of unchecked domestic spending.

“If you use a credit card to overspend and rack up debt, it’s not the shops’ fault,” Sachs said. “That’s exactly what the U.S. is doing — we’re spending more than we earn, and instead of fixing that, we’re blaming other countries. The U.S. government is the biggest credit card user of all.”

He also ridiculed the Trump administration’s rushed attempts to justify tariffs with what he described as “an absolutely stupid formula” that wouldn’t pass a first-year economics class. “It came straight out of the U.S. Trade Representative’s office — probably written overnight because ‘the boss wanted it,’” he added.

Sachs warned that Trump’s focus on trade deficits is not only misguided but dangerous. “This obsession is both childish and harmful,” he said, adding that Trump’s broader economic strategy contributed to an estimated $10 trillion in lost global wealth.

Beyond trade, Sachs expressed concern over what he sees as creeping authoritarianism in the United States. “We’re drifting toward one-man rule by emergency decree,” he warned, calling on global leaders to remain vigilant.

Rejecting Trump’s narrative that other nations are “cheating” the U.S., Sachs insisted the real problem lies at home: “This isn’t about trade — it’s about our own fiscal irresponsibility.”

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