Warren Buffett On Those Who 'Prattle' About Problems in the U.S. and Spread 'Pessimism' – 'I've Never Seen One Who Wishes to Emigrate'
- - Warren Buffett On Those Who 'Prattle' About Problems in the U.S. and Spread 'Pessimism' – 'I've Never Seen One Who Wishes to Emigrate'
Fahad SaleemFebruary 11, 2026 at 3:01 AM
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Billionaire Warren Buffett has long voiced confidence in the U.S. economy's strength, even as he acknowledges that short-term swings and volatility are inevitable.
In his 2014 letter to Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK, BRK.B)) investors, Buffett called out pessimists and reaffirmed his faith in the American economy with a confidence few could match.
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‘Preachers of Pessimism'
The Oracle of Omaha pointed to his 2009 decision to buy railroad company BNSF, calling it an "all-in" wager on the future of the U.S. economy made at the height of the financial crisis. Buffett said such bold moves were nothing new for him and then-Berkshire Vice Chair Charlie Munger. They saw America's long-term prosperity as "very close to a sure thing."
"My parents could not have dreamed in 1930 of the world their son would see," Buffett said in the letter. "Though the preachers of pessimism prattle endlessly about America's problems, I've never seen one who wishes to emigrate."
Last year offered a reminder of why the Oracle of Omaha remains optimistic: despite tariff tensions, recession fears, and market swings, the S&P 500 gained roughly 16%.
U.S. GDP grew at a 4.4% annualized rate in Q3, according to recent government data, the fastest pace since Q3 2023, marking a sharp turnaround from a 0.6% contraction in Q1 2025.
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Market Economy's Dynamism
Buffett said in his 2014 letter that no one in U.S. history has ever benefited by betting against the country. He encouraged people to zoom out and focus on the long term because economic gains never move in a straight or smooth line.
"The dynamism embedded in our market economy will continue to work its magic," Buffett said. "And we will regularly grumble about our government. But, most assuredly, America's best days lie ahead."
A lot has changed since Buffett made those comments in 2014. The stock market has experienced several sharp swings and bouts of volatility, including the COVID‑19 crash and tariff-driven shocks. Is Buffett still as bullish on the U.S. economy as he was before all these events?
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At Berkshire Hathaway's 2025 annual shareholder meeting, Buffett was asked if investors are right to be pessimistic about the economy after recent years of market volatility. Buffett said he feels fortunate to have been born in the country despite the upheavals it has gone through. He added that the U.S. is always changing, and there will always be things to criticize.
"We've gone through all kinds of things — great recessions, world wars, the development of the atomic bomb — that we never dreamt of when I was born," Buffett said. "So I would not get discouraged about the fact that we haven't solved every problem that's come along."
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