Stephen King has once again gone viral for mocking President Donald Trump—this time with a pointed acronym: “TACO: Trump Always Chickens Out.” The post shared on X (formerly Twitter) racked up over 1.5 million views in just 24 hours, as thousands of users reshared and liked the jab.
TACO: Trump Always Chickens Out.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) May 29, 2025
The timing wasn’t random. King’s post rides the wave of the fast-spreading “TACO” meme trend, which has exploded online in response to Trump’s handling of global tariffs and ongoing trade tensions. Critics say the president’s habit of announcing aggressive economic policies—only to scale them back or delay them—reflects a lack of consistency and follow-through.
The White House Fires Back
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Here’s what the White House says:
“Art is a reflection of the artist,” said spokesperson Kush Desai in a statement to Newsweek. “These asinine acronyms convey how unserious analysts have consistently beclowned themselves by mocking President Trump and his agenda that’s already delivered multiple expectation-beating jobs and inflation reports, trillions in investment commitments, a historic UK trade agreement, and rising consumer confidence.”
Why This Matters
The meme may seem trivial, but it reflects growing public frustration with the volatile nature of Trump’s trade policies. On April 2, Trump announced sweeping new tariffs—including a blanket 10% rate on all imported goods and so-called “reciprocal” tariffs aimed at punishing countries with unbalanced trade relationships.
The announcement triggered panic across financial markets. Wall Street experienced its worst sell-off since 2020, with trillions of dollars in market value wiped out.
Days after the tariffs were implemented, Trump suspended most of them for 90 days, resulting in a brief market rebound. But the damage to investor confidence was already done, echoing a pattern seen throughout Trump’s second term: aggressive economic threats followed by abrupt retreats.
Compounding the confusion, Trump has repeatedly pressured Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to lower interest rates—at one point even threatening to fire him before backing off again.
TACO: The Meme That Turned into a Market Joke
The phrase “TACO” didn’t originate with King. It started in financial circles as a shorthand for a now-predictable pattern: Trump threatens tariffs, markets panic, and then he backs down.
On Wednesday, CNBC reporter Megan Casella asked Trump about the so-called “TACO trade.” Trump lashed out at her, calling it the “nastiest” question and claiming she should never ask it again.
Here’s what Trump said:
“You call that chickening out? I reduced China from 145 percent to another number. I gave the EU a 50 percent tariff and they begged to meet. I said, ‘Ok, July 9.’ That’s not chickening out.”
Despite his pushback, the memes took on a life of their own—flooding platforms like X, Reddit, and TikTok. Users posted photos of Trump inside taco shells, dressed as chickens, or mashed up into fast-food packaging. The hashtag #TACOTrump continues to trend.
What Economists Are Saying
Here’s what University of Michigan economist Justin Wolfers told MSNBC:
“There’s an asset here that really matters called American credibility… There was a time when you had to pay attention when the president spoke because it meant something. That’s no longer the case. On Wall Street right now—funny and tragic—there’s a trade called the TACO trade. Trump always chickens out.”
Market analysts agree. Chris Beauchamp, chief strategist at IG Group, noted after a recent rebound:
“TACO trade triumphs once again.”
What’s Next
Trump has now delayed the next round of tariffs until July 9, citing ongoing negotiations with the European Union. Whether the talks yield a new deal—or another reversal—remains to be seen.
But one thing is certain: the internet isn’t letting the “TACO” moment go anytime soon.
Featured Image via YouTube screengrab
