Prominent Business Columnist Rejects White House Economic and Foreign Policies

2026-09-22 politics

Washington, Tuesday, 22 September 2026.
Former Wall Street Journal editor Gerard Baker sharply criticized President Trump’s second-term tariffs and fiscal management, signaling a widening rift between traditional conservatives and current administration policy.

A Conservative Voice Breaks Ranks

On September 22, 2026, prominent conservative commentator and former Wall Street Journal editor-at-large Gerard Baker publicly expressed severe disillusionment with President Donald Trump’s economic policies and political conduct [1]. This sharp criticism highlights a deepening friction between traditional pro-business conservative media figures and the populist wing of the Republican Party during Trump’s second term [1]. Baker, who served as the newspaper’s editor-in-chief from 2013 to 2018, delivered this scathing assessment in his latest weekly column, marking a significant shift in his public stance [1]. While Baker previously declared he had never been a victim of Trump derangement syndrome, he acknowledged finding much that is repellent in the president’s character and rhetoric [1].

From Disappointment to Dismay

In an essay headlined Help—I Feel a Bad Case of TDS Coming On, Baker explained why he initially believed that Trump in office was necessary [1]. However, he reported self-diagnosing a virulent form of Trump derangement syndrome that has steadily progressed over the last year [1]. This progression moved from Trump disappointment syndrome through Trump disillusionment syndrome to a full-blown case of Trump dismay syndrome [1]. The column signifies a notable rift, potentially signaling broader shifts in corporate financial support and political backing ahead of upcoming legislative cycles [1].

Economic and Foreign Policy Grievances

Baker unleashed a lengthy catalog of grievances with Trump during his second term, taking aim at specific administration policies [1]. He criticized the president’s self-indulgent tariff fixation and insouciance about public finances as key economic concerns [1]. Additionally, Baker cited the war with Iran and grotesque self-enrichment among the issues driving his dismay [1]. This critique underscores the tension between established conservative economic principles and the current administration’s approach to fiscal management and foreign policy [1].

Sources

US Politics Conservative Media