Trump lashes out after reporter uses Wall Street nickname during press conference

President Donald Trump didn’t hold back after a reporter brought up a nickname mocking his trade tactics — sparking a fiery exchange at a White House press conference on May 28.

During a live press briefing, CNBC reporter Megan Casella asked President Trump about a term that has been making the rounds on Wall Street: T.A.C.O., short for “Trump Always Chickens Out.”

The nickname, first coined in a Financial Times article by journalist Robert Armstrong, refers to Trump’s pattern of announcing tough tariffs only to later delay or soften them. While investors have responded with relief — helping markets rebound — Trump clearly didn’t find the joke funny.

Casella 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?”

At first, Trump seemed confused by the phrase.
“I kick out?” he asked.
“Chicken out,” Casella repeated.

Once he realized the meaning, Trump’s mood quickly changed.

“You ask a nasty question like that,” he snapped. “It’s called negotiation. You set a number… If I set a number at a ridiculously high level, I go down a little bit, they want me to hold that number.”

He went on to defend his decisions, claiming the economy was in crisis six months ago, and accused the reporter of being disrespectful.

Why the nickname stuck

The reason behind the cheeky nickname comes from Trump’s recent actions on trade:

• On May 12, Trump paused a 145% tariff on Chinese imports, issuing a 90-day freeze to ease concerns.
• More recently, he delayed a 50% tariff on EU goods, originally set for June 1, pushing it to July 9.

While Trump frames these moves as smart negotiation tactics, critics — and some on Wall Street — see them as signs that he backs down when faced with economic fallout.

One trader wrote on social media:

“Markets love T.A.C.O. Tuesday. Every time Trump threatens tariffs, we know he’ll fold by Friday.”

Not the first clash with the press

Trump has a long history of sparring with reporters, and it hasn’t eased in his second term.

Just a week before the “T.A.C.O.” exchange, on May 20, a journalist from the nonprofit news site NOTUS questioned Trump about failing to gather enough support for a recent bill.

Trump responded with:

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

These testy exchanges suggest the president remains combative toward the press — especially when challenged in public.

What’s really behind Trump’s tariff strategy?

Supporters argue Trump’s aggressive tariff threats are a powerful way to pressure foreign governments into better trade deals. They see delays not as backing down, but as part of the negotiation process.

However, critics say the repeated reversals send mixed signals that unsettle businesses and investors.

Economist Sarah Li told Bloomberg:

“Uncertainty is the real cost here. When policies change week to week, companies struggle to plan ahead — and that hurts economic growth.”

As Trump barrels through his second term with more executive orders and trade threats, it’s likely the press — and the public — will keep asking tough questions. And if this week is any sign, he won’t always be happy with the answers.

One thing’s clear – the White House isn’t cooling down anytime soon.