During a May 28 White House press conference, President Donald Trump faced sharp scrutiny after a reporter confronted him with a biting term gaining traction in financial circles: “T.A.C.O.” — short for “Trump Always Chickens Out.” Coined by Financial Times columnist Robert Armstrong, the acronym reflects what analysts see as Trump’s pattern of threatening aggressive tariffs only to later soften or withdraw them, a trend that traders believe explains recent market rebounds despite tough rhetoric.
CNBC’s Megan Casella cited the phrase in a question, asking Trump how he responded to claims that markets were calm because investors believed he would back off again.
Initially confused, Trump misheard the phrase as “kick out” before Casella clarified. Visibly irritated, he launched into a defensive explanation, insisting that his tariff strategy was smart negotiation and branding the question “nasty.” Trump emphasized that his threats were part of a broader tactic, not a sign of weakness, and lashed out at the reporter, repeating that her question was inappropriate.
The exchange quickly spread on social media, with “T.A.C.O.” trending on X (formerly Twitter), fueling both mockery and political debate. Critics argued that Trump’s heated reaction only validated the label, while supporters accused journalists of baiting him. This wasn’t an isolated clash. Just a week earlier, Trump dismissed a reporter from nonprofit outlet NOTUS who asked about GOP frustrations, telling him, “Get yourself a real job.”
These incidents highlight the combative tone of Trump’s second term and suggest that, far from mellowing, his confrontations with the press have intensified. Whether Trump addresses the “T.A.C.O.” nickname again remains to be seen, but his response has already amplified its visibility, making it part of the ongoing narrative around his economic policies and temperament.
