Trump Fires Back After Reporter Drops “T.A.C.O.” Nickname at Press Conference
May 28 Press Briefing Turns Tense
President Donald Trump is no stranger to confrontations during press conferences. But this time, it was a reporter who threw the first jab—and Trump didn’t hold back.
Now in his second term, Trump has moved fast. He’s signed a series of executive orders and imposed controversial tariffs on several countries. These aggressive moves rattled Wall Street, hitting companies like Walmart and Apple. While markets initially fell, they’ve since rebounded. Traders, attributing the rebound to Trump’s perceived hesitations, even gave him a nickname he clearly didn’t find amusing.
“Trump Always Chickens Out”: The Nickname That Sparked the Clash
During a live White House press briefing on May 28, CNBC reporter Megan Casella pressed Trump:
“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?”
The nickname, “T.A.C.O.” — short for “Trump Always Chickens Out” — was originally coined by Financial Times journalist Robert Armstrong. It mocks Trump’s pattern of making bold tariff threats, then later backing off.
Tariff Walk-Backs That Fed the Joke
Examples abound:
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On May 12, Trump paused a planned 145% tariff on Chinese imports, announcing a 90-day freeze.
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He also delayed a 50% tariff on EU goods, shifting the date from June 1 to July 9, giving more time for talks.
These moves may have reassured investors, but they also gave rise to the T.A.C.O. acronym.
Trump Reacts: “That’s a Nasty Question”
Trump didn’t find it funny.
At first confused, he asked:
“I kick out?”
Casella clarified: “Chicken out.”
Trump responded bluntly:
“I’ve never heard that.”
Then his tone changed. Clearly irritated, he fired back:
“You ask a nasty question like that. It’s called negotiation. You set a number… I set a ridiculous high number, then come down a bit. That’s how it works.”
He defended his strategy, citing the 145% tariff as an example of a calculated move—not cowardice.
“Six months ago, this country was stone-cold dead. And you ask a nasty question like that?”
He repeated his warning:
“Don’t ever say what you said. That’s a nasty question.”
Trump vs. the Press: A Pattern Continues
This wasn’t an isolated moment. Trump has shown increasing impatience with the media in his second term.
Just eight days earlier, on May 20, another clash unfolded. A NOTUS journalist questioned whether Trump had failed to sway votes for a new bill. Trump snapped:
“Who? I don’t even know what the hell that is. Get yourself a real job.”
Final Word
If anyone expected a more measured Trump this term, moments like these prove otherwise. Whether it’s a biting question or a cheeky nickname, the President continues to meet criticism with full force—especially when it comes from the press.
