The tone around the U.S. economy has shifted dramatically, and not in a good way.
Investors, business leaders, and everyday Americans alike are feeling the tremors.
Adding his voice to the growing concerns, billionaire Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, didn’t mince words when he said he believes the U.S. might already be in a recession—or very close to it.
A Recession Might Already Be Here
In a recent interview with CNBC, Fink shared his view that the economy is already showing signs of being in decline.
“I think we’re very close, if not already in a recession,” he said candidly.
This statement echoes what many CEOs have been murmuring behind closed doors, and Fink emphasized that most of his peers in the corporate world are seeing the same thing.
Tariffs Stir Up Market Anxiety
The fears intensified after former President Donald Trump rolled out sweeping tariffs against numerous countries.
The move rattled markets, leading to sharp declines and wiping out chunks of Americans’ investment portfolios and retirement funds.
Even though the White House later paused some of these tariffs for 90 days—specifically for countries that hadn’t hit back with their own trade barriers—the damage was already done.
That short-term relief sent Wall Street into a frenzy, producing its biggest one-day jump since 2008.
But beneath the surface, uncertainty remained.
A Temporary Pause Isn’t Enough
Fink believes the tariff delay isn’t the silver bullet some hoped for.
In his view, it simply prolongs the anxiety rather than resolving it.
“The 90-day pause just stretches out the uncertainty,” he said on CNBC’s Squawk on the Street.
“You’re going to see a general slowdown until there’s more clarity.”
He added that this uncertainty has been self-inflicted.
“This isn’t a pandemic or a financial meltdown—it’s a situation we’ve created,” Fink explained.
His point? The U.S., once a force for stability after World War II, now risks being viewed as a source of disruption on the global stage.
Short-Term Fears vs. Long-Term Faith
Even with his worries about where things are heading right now, Fink hasn’t lost his long-term optimism.
“I’m not as concerned about the big picture over the next decade, but in the short term, I’m really nervous,” he admitted.
Despite the chaos, he believes U.S. capitalism still has strong bones, and clients around the world are still looking to BlackRock for insights and leadership.
The Big Trends Are Still on Track
Fink also reassured that transformative trends like artificial intelligence aren’t going away.
However, he did acknowledge that the pace of progress might slow down temporarily due to the economic hiccups.
“The momentum behind mega-forces like AI won’t disappear, but we might see some delays in how they play out,” he said.
Inflation and Market Misjudgment
One of Fink’s most pointed warnings was about inflation.
He believes many investors still don’t fully grasp how high it could go, especially when the ripple effects of tariffs and other policy decisions are added to the mix.
“When you factor everything in, it’s clear inflation could climb more than expected,” he said.
Looking Ahead
So what’s next? According to Fink, the U.S. needs to recalibrate and accept that a slowdown may already be happening.
While he doesn’t think we’re entering a full-blown financial crisis, he’s urging caution and calling for more thoughtful leadership.
And despite the short-term challenges, he remains hopeful for the long-term strength of the American economy.