During a recent White House press briefing on May 28, President Donald Trump responded sharply to a
reporter’s question about a new nickname circulating among financial analysts: “T.A.C.O.” — short for “Trump Always Chickens Out.”
The label, reportedly introduced by a Financial Times columnist, has gained traction on Wall Street to describe
what some see as a recurring pattern in Trump’s approach to international trade — issuing bold tariff threats, only
to walk them back later. Specific examples cited include delaying a proposed 50% tariff on European imports and
suspending a 145% levy on goods from China.
When CNBC’s Megan Casella asked the president about the moniker, Trump appeared visibly irritated and labeled
the question “nasty,” insisting his tactics were part of a broader negotiation strategy. “Don’t ever say what you said,” he
warned, in a tense exchange caught on camera.
This isn’t the first time Trump has clashed with members of the press during his second term.
Just days earlier, he dismissed another reporter’s question by saying, “Get yourself a real job.”
Trump’s ongoing confrontations with journalists continue to draw attention, especially as critics
and supporters debate the effectiveness — and tone — of his communication style.