I’m familiar with TACO (Trump Always Chickens Out) and NACHO (Not A Chance Hormuz Opens) as food acronyms to describe Trump’s approach to policy. But apparently I’m behind the times, because I was unaware of two more that people have been using. One of the benefits of having no social media, perhaps. Anyway, they’re fun, and just complicated enough that I know I’m not going to remember them, so I’ll stick them here for my benefit and yours.
One of the clever ways to deal with the unprecedented and disruptive U.S. presidency of Donald Trump is to make up acronyms using Mexican foods.
This has given us TACO — Trump Always Chickens Out — to reflect the U.S. president’s tendency to escalate a situation before retreating once the economic and political costs become too heavy.Then there was EMPANADA — Everybody Makes Promises And Nobody Actually Delivers Anything — used to describe countries making outrageous and unachievable trade promises in the hope of avoiding the worst of Trump’s tariffs.
More recently, NACHO — Not A Chance Hormuz Opens — was popular. The vital Strait of Hormuz did sort of reopen after Washington and Tehran signed an interim peace deal on June 17. But even that partial relief is now in question after Trump said on Wednesday that the MOU was “over,” reviving the risk that the waterway could again become a pressure point.
Perhaps the best Mexican food acronym for Trump is TAMALES, standing for Trump Always Messes Around, Leaves Everybody Shafted.
Now I want empanadas.
This is going to sound weird, but I can’t remember if I’ve ever had them. I must have at some point, but I have no idea.
They’re those little pastries full of spicy filling. Usually beef I think. I don’t know what makes them different than samosas. Maybe the kind of filling? Or maybe I’m nuts. It’s been a while since I’ve had one. Yup. According to robo google, empanadas are round and are made of different dough than the triangular curry-filled yummy samosas. And empanadas might have more cheese in them.