Taco, taco man, Brunswick Beacon

Brunswick Beacon, 06.19.25

Donald Trump hurls more insults than Don Rickles. In 2019, the New York Times published a list of 598 Trump insults, many aimed at Republicans. He called Nikki Haley, his U.N. Ambassador, “birdbrain.” He called Jeff Sessions, his Attorney General, a “dumb Southerner” and “mentally retarded.” He called Marco Rubio, his Secretary of State, a “lightweight choker,” “a basket case” and “Little Marco.”

Trump’s been on the receiving end, too. Lindsey Graham called him a “a race-baiting xenophobic, religious bigot.” JD Vance called him “reprehensible,” an "idiot" and “America's Hitler.” Rubio suggested that Trump wet his pants. 

None of those insults stuck… “TACO” will. NBC News reports that Trump has announced tariffs only to back down at least 10 times so far, including his suspension of tariffs against China, Canada, Mexico and the European Union. Wall Street traders coined the term “TACO Trade” to describe the enormous profits they make betting on the fact that “Trump Always Chickens Out.”  Here’s how it works: markets sink when Trump threatens tariffs, then soar when he caves. Investors buy on the drop and get rich on the rebound. 

Video of Trump dancing to The Village People with Jimmy Kimmel’s lyrics, “TACO, TACO Man,” went viral. Asked about his “TACO” nickname, Trump totally lost his sriracha and lashed out at the reporter: "Don't ever say what you said. That's a nasty question." A defensive Trump offered a lame excuse: “If I set a number at a ridiculous high number, they want me to hold that number. A 145% tariff, even I said, ‘Whoa, that's high, that’s high.’" 

Foolishly, Trump agreed that his tariffs are “ridiculous” and he has no intention of holding to them. But you don’t negotiate by confessing! Or by admitting that “Trump Always Chickens Out.” No wonder he bankrupted three casinos.

Wall Street fat cats are getting even fatter by not taking Trump seriously. They know that, like a taco, Trump always folds.

Kristine Garrity

Calabash