US President Donald Trump again got testy with a reporter over a question, this time over a phrase being used on Wall Street over the president’s tendency to not follow through on tariff threats. Trump fumed when asked by a reporter Wednesday whether markets have been calm in the face of his tariff spree because they believe he “always chickens out” on tariff threats, blasting the question as “nasty.”During a brief gaggle in the Oval Office after the swearing in of Interim Attorney for the District of Washington Jeanine Pirro, CNBC White House correspondent Megan Casella asked Trump about his credibility on tariffs.“Mr. President, Wall Street analysts have coined a new term called the TACO trade. They’re saying ‘Trump always chickens out’ on your tariff threats. And that’s why markets are higher this week. What’s your response to that?” she asked.Trump appeared frustrated by the question, which seemingly referenced Financial Times columnist Robert Armstrong’s assessment of how Wall Street is interpreting the administration’s tariffs.ALSO READ: Elon Musk leaves DOGE: Who will succeed Trump's 'first buddy' and what happens to the watchdog now?“Oh, isn’t that nice. Chicken out. I’ve never heard that,” Trump replied before turning indignant. “You mean because I reduced China from 145% that I set down to 100 and then down to another number. I said you have to open your whole country.”“And because I gave the European Union a 50% … tariff and they called up and they said, “Please let’s meet right now,” he added. “And I said, ‘I’ll give you until July’ … you call that chickening out?“Six months ago, this country was stone-cold dead,” he later said. “People didn’t think it would survive, and you ask a nasty question like that. It’s called negotiation … Don’t ever say what you said. That’s a nasty question.”Trump on TACOOn April 2—what Trump called “Liberation Day”—he launched a sweeping tariff policy, imposing a 10% baseline rate and rolling out a barrage of tailored tariffs targeting nearly every country. The announcement triggered a sharp market downturn. However, just before the customized tariffs were set to take effect, Trump put them on hold—except those aimed at China—delaying implementation until July 8 to allow time for rapid-fire trade negotiations. Markets responded by beginning to recover. Since then, the Trump administration has reached a provisional agreement with China, temporarily lowering its tariffs to around 30% while further talks continue.ALSO READ: Elon Musk-Trump bromance over? Tesla CEO's first major public disagreement with President sparks buzz“We have $14 trillion committed to investing when Biden didn’t have practically anything — this country was dying,” he added. “You know, we have the hottest country anywhere in the world.“I went to Saudi Arabia. The king told me, he said, ‘You have the hottest country in the world right now,'” Trump added.Earlier this week, the president agreed to delay the deadline he imposed against the European Union from June 1 to July 9, during which he’s threatened to slap 50% tariffs on the bloc. The move came after a call with EU President Ursula von der Leyen.The Trump administration previously imposed 25% tariffs on automobiles, aluminum, steel and imports from Canada and Mexico that don’t comply with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.That’s in addition to the baseline 10% tariff rate on all imports and the 30% tariffs on China.ALSO READ: Inside The Handmaid's Tale series finale: Elisabeth Moss reflects on show's ending, says 'I can't imagine...'What is TACO trade?The term TACO trade , an acronym for Trump Always Chickens Out , was coined by Financial Times columnist Robert Armstrong to describe a recurring pattern in Trump's approach to tariffs. This pattern involves Trump making bold threats of imposing high tariffs on imported goods, leading to initial market downturns, followed by a retreat or softening of those threats, which then results in market rebounds.For instance, when Trump announced a 50% tariff on European goods set to take effect on June 1, markets reacted negatively. However, upon extending the deadline to July 9 to allow for further negotiations, stock futures rose, exemplifying the TACO trade cycle.ALSO READ: Texas Senate passes bill to define the difference between man and woman based on reproductive organs. Check detailsThis cycle has become a strategic playbook for investors, who anticipate the initial market dip following tariff threats and capitalize on the subsequent rebound when Trump backs down. Analysts have noted that this pattern reflects a predictable market response to Trump's trade policies.Trump, however, has rejected the notion that he chickens out on tariffs. When questioned about the TACO trade, he described the term as nasty and emphasized that his actions are part of a deliberate negotiation strategy. He stated, It's called negotiation, asserting that setting high tariffs and then adjusting them is a tactic to bring trading partners to the tableThe TACO trade term has gained traction not only among investors but also on social media, where it has sparked discussions and memes, further highlighting the intersection of politics, economics, and internet culture