Finance
Citadel CEO Griffin says US has 'frayed' relationship with European allies
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 21, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Quick Summary
Ken Griffin warns of strained US-European relations due to tariffs and criticizes Trump's influence on the Federal Reserve at Davos.
Citadel's Ken Griffin Warns of Deteriorating US-European Relations
Impact of US Tariffs on European Allies
Jan 21 (Reuters) - Ken Griffin, the CEO of Citadel, said on Wednesday that the United States had "frayed its relationship" with its European allies in a way that the billionaire said he did not "understand or appreciate".
Griffin's Comments on Inflation
Griffin's comments, made at the World Economic Forum in Davos, come after President Donald Trump vowed over the weekend to implement a wave of increasing tariffs on European allies until the United States was allowed to buy Greenland, escalating a row over the future of Denmark's vast Arctic island.
Concerns Over Federal Reserve Independence
Griffin, a Republican supporter who has said he voted for Trump in the 2024 election, also said that the U.S. had seen higher inflation due to Trump's tariffs.
"We have disrupted long-standing trading relationships because of the tariffs," he said.
Griffin also reiterated his concerns about the Trump administration's criticism of the U.S. Federal Reserve. Trump has repeatedly demanded large interest rate cuts, accusing the Fed of being too slow to lower borrowing costs and threatening to indict its chair, Jerome Powell, over comments he made.
"The easy money policies that Trump is trying to encourage the Fed to pursue increase the risk of inflation, and I think puts both him and his party in a more precarious position," Griffin added.
Griffin has previously spoken of the need to maintain the Fed's independence.
(Reporting by Shivani Tanna and Akanksha Khushi in Bengaluru; Writing by Shubham Kalia; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Gareth Jones)
Key Takeaways
- •Ken Griffin warns of deteriorating US-European relations.
- •US tariffs on European allies are a major concern.
- •Griffin criticizes Trump's influence on Federal Reserve policies.
- •Inflation risks are heightened by easy money policies.
- •Griffin emphasizes the need for Fed independence.
Frequently Asked Questions about Citadel CEO Griffin says US has 'frayed' relationship with European allies
1What is inflation?
Inflation is the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services rises, eroding purchasing power. It is typically measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or the Producer Price Index (PPI).
2What is monetary policy?
Monetary policy refers to the actions taken by a country's central bank to control the money supply and interest rates to achieve macroeconomic objectives such as controlling inflation, consumption, growth, and liquidity.
3What is a central bank?
A central bank is a financial institution that manages a country's currency, money supply, and interest rates. It also oversees the banking system and implements monetary policy.
4What is a financial crisis?
A financial crisis is a situation in which the value of financial institutions or assets drops rapidly. It can lead to a loss of confidence in the financial system and can have widespread economic impacts.
