Sir Richard Branson has issued a strong criticism of the tariffs imposed by Donald Trump, characterizing the U.S. president’s economic strategies as “erratic and unpredictable,” which he believes could cause significant harm. The Virgin Group founder described these policies as “very difficult for businesses to handle” following the recent announcement by Washington of new tariffs and trade barriers, which have unsettled global markets.
Virgin Group’s investment portfolio spans a broad array of industries, including travel, entertainment, and telecommunications. Branson remarked on Wednesday that although Virgin’s ventures, such as cruise ships, airlines, and health clubs, were previously thriving, the continuation of Trump’s policies could endanger this success.
Earlier in the month, the U.S. government had disclosed a set of tariffs aimed at items imported from trade partners, posing a threat to international trade stability. In response to a major market sell-off, Trump introduced a 90-day pause on some severe measures, but simultaneously prompted a trade conflict with Beijing by significantly increasing levies on the majority of Chinese goods.
Branson expressed regret, noting that the situation was quite favorable up until a recent decline in conditions. His comments coincided with the launch of Virgin Atlantic’s new daily route from London’s Heathrow airport to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. The airline, 51% owned by Virgin Group, predominantly ferries passengers between the UK and the US, leaving it vulnerable to potential downturns in transatlantic travel.
Shai Weiss, Virgin Atlantic’s chief executive, indicated on Wednesday that certain customers were postponing their travel bookings due to the prevailing uncertainty. Nonetheless, he mentioned that the weakened U.S. dollar, which has depreciated as a consequence of Trump’s tariffs, could entice British tourists to consider vacations in the United States.
Earlier in the month, Virgin Atlantic highlighted early indications of reduced demand from U.S. consumers for flights to Europe, marking a potential slowdown in transatlantic travel interests. Reports from the Financial Times have previously noted a substantial decline in European visitors to the U.S., as political and economic tensions are exacerbated by fears of more stringent border policies.
On the same day, Virgin Atlantic revealed plans to extend its flight routes to Asia with new launches to South Korea expected in 2026, while still emphasizing the importance of transatlantic travel to its operations. Juha Järvinen, the chief commercial officer, expressed excitement about expanding their network in the east.
