During a press briefing at the White House on Wednesday, a light-hearted moment unfolded when CNBC correspondent Megan Cassella presented President Donald Trump with a playful new acronym circulating on Wall Street: TACO, which stands for “Trump Always Chickens Out.” This catchy phrase refers to the president’s propensity to reverse course on tariff threats, capturing the attention of traders and social media alike. Cassella queried, “Mr. President, Wall Street analysts have coined a new term called the ‘Taco trade.’ They’re saying ‘Trump Always Chickens Out’ regarding your tariff threats. That’s why markets are up this week. What’s your response?”
The question seemed to irritate Trump, who quickly refuted the implication that he had backed down. “I chicken out? Oh, I’ve never heard that,” he responded. The president defended his approach to tariffs, asserting, “You mean because I reduced China from 145% that I set down to 100 and then to another number?” His comments referred to his tariff policy on Chinese imports, which peaked at 145% before he subsequently lowered the rates to 100% and then to 30%.
Just last week, Trump had announced a 50% tariff on European Union goods set to take effect on June 1. However, he later postponed this deadline to July 9, citing progress in trade negotiations. This abrupt change further fueled the “TACO” moniker, resonating with critics and supporters alike.
The TACO acronym quickly gained traction on social media, leading to a flood of memes and creative responses. Images featuring Trump’s likeness on tacos, chickens humorously perched on his head, and animated GIFs poking fun at his trade policies circulated widely. One user quipped, “THERE ARE NO TRADE DEALS. Because Trump Always Chickens Out.” Another offered a rhymed critique: “The truth, in case there was doubt-Donald Trump may be losing his clout. His tariffs will reveal… he loses every deal. That’s because Trump Always Chickens Out.”
Later in the day, during an Oval Office meeting, Trump was asked again about the viral term and displayed visible annoyance. Sarcastically, he said, “Oh, I chicken out? Isn’t that nice? I’ve never heard that.” He vigorously defended his decision to lower tariffs on Chinese imports and delay the EU tariff increase. “You call that chickening out?” asked the president, pointing to the hardships faced by China before his adjustments. “I think we really helped China tremendously because, you know, they were having great difficulty because we were basically going cold turkey with China.”
As the exchange drew to a close, Trump admonished Cassella, stating, “Don’t ever say what you said. That’s a nasty question.” Despite his irritation, the TACO reference continues to trend online, illustrating the intersection of internet culture and political discourse.
This playful yet contentious moment highlights how public perception of economic policy can quickly become a cultural phenomenon, reflecting both the intensity of current political debates and the evolving landscape of media engagement in the age of digital information.
Original Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/us-news/trump-taco-memes-internet-mocks-tariff-u-turns-but-president-insists-i-don-t-chicken-out-11748575751253.html
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Publish Date: 2025-05-30 09:20:00
