Trump Angrily Confronts Team Over 'TACO' Tariff Nickname

President Donald Trump reacted with frustration and anger upon being caught off guard by a reporter's question about the term "TACO," an acronym for "Trump Always Chickens Out," which critiques his pattern of imposing high tariffs only to later back down. The term, coined by a Financial Times columnist and circulating on Wall Street, is used to calm market fears by suggesting Trump typically relents under economic pressure. Trump viewed the nickname as an insult implying weakness, which he strongly rejects, emphasizing that his tariff strategies involve setting high initial rates to gain leverage before negotiating reductions. His irritation was compounded by his staff's failure to inform him about the term’s growing usage, leading him to lash out at his team. Recent tariff actions include imposing 145 percent tariffs on Chinese imports before reducing them and threatening 50 percent tariffs on the European Union, reflecting a pattern of aggressive negotiation followed by concessions. This incident highlights the delicate balance between political rhetoric, market perceptions, and economic policy implications.