As fresh tariffs take effect, the ‘Taco Trump’ meme turns into a weekly internet fiesta

The acronym TACO, standing for "Trump Always Chickens Out," has become a popular meme and hashtag after President Trump's reaction to it during a press conference. The phrase had been circulating among traders and social media users before gaining widespread attention. Democrats, including Rep. Eric Swalwell, have embraced the meme, while millions of others have searched for more information about it. According to CNN, Google searches for "Trump TACO" increased by 9,900% after the press conference. The president was reportedly upset that his team didn't warn him about the meme's popularity, and he later chewed out his team members for not alerting him. The meme has become a weekly celebration, with Democrats and social media users using the hashtag #TacoTuesday to criticize Trump's tariff policies. On the first Taco Tuesday since its debut, Democrats and social media users went all in on the meme, creating AI-generated taco imagery and tweeting about it. The Democratic Party even commissioned a taco truck to serve free meals near the Republican National Committee's headquarters in DC. The celebration coincided with Trump's latest tariff increase, which went into effect the day after Taco Tuesday. Trump's defenders have dismissed the meme as "cringey," but the president's silence on the matter has neutralized its power.