David Solomon on Donald Trump
TL;DR
David Solomon has been the subject of sharp public criticism from Donald Trump, primarily over Goldman Sachs' economic forecasts.
Key Points
The former president publicly rebuked the Goldman Sachs CEO in August 2025 over the bank's bearish research on tariffs.
Trump suggested Solomon should focus on DJing rather than running the major financial institution after disagreeing with Goldman's economic forecasts.
The conflict arose from Goldman Sachs analysis suggesting US consumers absorbed a significant portion of the cost of the tariffs.
Summary
David Solomon, the Chief Executive of Goldman Sachs, has found himself in a public dispute with Donald Trump, who vocally criticized the banker. The core of the tension stems from the bank's analysis regarding the economic impact of tariffs implemented by the former president. Trump specifically targeted Solomon following research from the bank, asserting that Goldman Sachs made a "bad prediction" on both the market repercussions and the tariffs themselves, suggesting that foreign entities, not US consumers, were largely absorbing the costs.
This public rebuke led Trump to question Solomon's fitness to lead the major financial institution and suggest he return to his former hobby of DJing. While the source of the direct conflict appears to be specific economic research from Goldman Sachs, the situation highlights a recurring pattern where the former president targets corporate leaders whose institutional analysis conflicts with his policy stances. Solomon, by leading a firm known for its rigorous economic modeling, stood at the forefront of institutional pushback against the administration's trade policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
David Solomon's position is characterized by being on the receiving end of strong public criticism from Donald Trump. The tension stems from Goldman Sachs' economic analysis, which reportedly contradicted the former president's claims about the impact of his policies.
The available information suggests a consistent pattern of professional disagreement, particularly concerning trade policy and economic forecasting. Solomon's role as CEO requires the bank to maintain research positions, which, when contradictory to the administration's narrative, provoked strong reactions from Trump.
The public record shows a more direct engagement from Donald Trump toward David Solomon, rather than the reverse. The CEO has been the target of the former president's social media commentary criticizing the bank’s research output.