Trump Snaps at Reporter Over Mocking Wall Street Nickname During Press Conference
President Donald Trump found himself in a heated exchange with a reporter after being confronted with a Wall Street nickname that takes aim at his trade policies.
The confrontation occurred during a press briefing on May 28, when CNBC reporter Megan Casella questioned Trump about the term “T.A.C.O.” — an acronym for “Trump Always Chickens Out.”
The nickname, originally coined by a Financial Times columnist, has gained traction among financial circles. It’s meant to highlight what critics describe as Trump’s habit of making bold tariff threats before eventually walking them back.
Recent examples include his delays on imposing a 50% tariff on European imports and pausing a planned 145% tariff on Chinese goods.
Trump appeared momentarily confused by the question before quickly labeling it as “nasty.”
Defending his trade tactics, Trump argued that strategic delays are part of effective negotiations, not weakness. “Don’t ever say what you said,” he warned Casella sharply during the televised event.
The tense moment comes on the heels of another recent clash between Trump and members of the press.
TRUMP: Who do you work for?
REPORTER: NOTUS
TRUMP: I don’t even know what the hell that is. Get yourself a real job. pic.twitter.com/pzyw54LAB5
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 20, 2025
Just days earlier, the President told a different journalist to “get yourself a real job” after being pressed on another controversial topic.
Now well into his second term, Trump’s contentious relationship with the media shows no signs of cooling off, especially as reporters and commentators continue to scrutinize his approach to trade and foreign policy.
White House officials later brushed off the exchange, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt characterizing the question as “clickbait journalism,” emphasizing that the President remains focused on achieving favorable trade agreements for American workers.
