A Sharp Exchange at the White House

President Trump issued a stern warning to a reporter during a heated press conference on May 28. The journalist had asked about the stock market’s reaction to Trump’s recent tariff delays, using a nickname that visibly irritated the president.

Tariffs Shake Markets—Then Rebound

Since his second term began, Trump wasted no time. He signed off on multiple executive orders and rolled out sweeping tariffs affecting countries worldwide. Major companies like Apple and Walmart also braced for impact.

Initially, markets tumbled. But this week, Wall Street saw a rebound, prompting analysts to coin a nickname: the “TACO trade”—short for “Trump Always Chickens Out.” The name refers to Trump’s repeated postponements of tariff deadlines, which temporarily calmed market fears.

The Question That Sparked the Blowup

During the press conference, a reporter asked:

“They’re saying ‘Trump Always Chickens Out’ on the tariff threats and that’s why markets are higher this week. What’s your response to that?”

Trump, caught off guard at first, quickly recovered. He slammed the question as offensive, saying:

“Six months ago, this country was stone-cold dead. People thought it wouldn’t survive. And you ask a nasty question like that?”

He followed up with a stern warning:

“Don’t ever say what you said. That’s a nasty question.”

Not His First Run-In with Reporters

This wasn’t the only tense exchange Trump had in recent days. On May 20, while speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill, another journalist pressed him on Republican Andy Harris’s criticism regarding a legislative vote.

Trump asked the reporter what outlet he worked for. When told “NOTUS,” the president fired back:

“Who? I don’t even know what the hell that is. Get yourself a real job.”