President Donald Trump’s decision to postpone a major attack on Iran for two weeks, contingent on the unconditional opening of the Strait of Hormuz, once again demonstrated his characteristic tendency to back down, now widely known as Trump Always Chicken Out (TACO).
This term, first coined by the Financial Times, has become a widely recognized symbol of Trump’s negotiation tactics.
His strategy often involves escalating tensions to extreme levels, only to retreat at the last moment to secure some advantage.
On Tuesday, Trump exhibited this classic maneuver once more. That day, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif requested Trump extend the deadline for attacking Iranian bridges and power plants by two weeks.
Sharif also asked Tehran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for two weeks as a goodwill gesture.
In response, Trump agreed to pause attacks on Iran for two weeks, provided that Iran fully and immediately opens the Strait of Hormuz.
Previously, Trump had pressured Iran by attacking its oil export facility on Kharg Island.
He further ratcheted up tensions through his social media, ominously declaring that tonight, an entire civilization could be destroyed and never return. He doesn’t want that to happen, but it might.
However, as the negotiation deadline loomed, he once again backed down.
This marks yet another instance of Trump employing TACO tactics in the U.S.-Iran conflict.
On March 21, Trump initially set a 48-hour negotiation deadline, threatening to devastate power plants if the Strait of Hormuz remained closed.
Just two days later, on March 23, he declared a five-day delay, and on March 26, he extended it by another ten days until April 6.
On April 5, he extended it by one more day, pushing the deadline to April 7.
Although April 7 was perceived as the final deadline, Trump ultimately postponed the attack by another two weeks.
This recurring pattern of threats, delays, renewed threats, and further postponements has significantly eroded the credibility of Trump’s statements in the financial markets.
On that day, U.S. stock markets rose sharply, with all indices climbing except for the Dow, as investors anticipated that Trump would back down once again, effectively disregarding his comments.