The term “TACO”—standing for “Trump Always Chickens Out”—has recently gained popularity in international diplomatic and military circles. Political analysts use this term against the backdrop of Trump repeatedly issuing major threats—whether regarding trade tariffs or military strikes on Iran—only to subsequently retreat from those decisions.
Recently, US President Donald Trump threatened a decisive operation against Iran but called it off at the last minute. Below is a summary of instances where he issued such destructive threats against Iran but ultimately backed down:
March 21: Threat to Destroy Power Plants
Trump issued a stern warning that all of Iran’s power plants would be “destroyed” unless the strategic Strait of Hormuz was kept “fully open.” However, after the initial deadline passed, he extended the cutoff time—first by five days and later by another week.
April 1: Warning to Send Iran Back to the “Stone Age”
Trump threatened to bomb Iran and send it back to the “Stone Age” over the failure to reach an agreement regarding the Strait of Hormuz. However, Washington took no immediate military action. Four days later, he posted a harsh critique of Iran on social media.
April 7: Threat to “Destroy a Civilization” Followed by a Truce
Trump declared, “An entire civilization will be destroyed tonight.”
His remarks sparked global alarm, with human rights organizations warning of potential mass civilian casualties. Yet, the very next day (April 8), a fragile truce agreement was signed between the two nations through Pakistan’s mediation.
May 4: Announcement and Suspension of Military Operation
Trump announced “Operation Project Freedom” to ensure the safe passage of ships stranded by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. However, just two days later, he announced on his Truth Social platform that the operation had been temporarily “suspended” to explore the possibility of a negotiated settlement. June 11: Overnight U-turn on threat to seize island
Trump had threatened to deal a “very severe blow” to Iran, speaking of seizing the country’s strategically vital Kharg Island and taking “full control” of its entire energy sector. However, within just a few hours, he made an abrupt U-turn, citing the prospect of talks between the US and Iran’s top leadership.
According to analysts, a heated debate has arisen over whether this pattern of Trump frequently issuing extreme threats—only to subsequently reverse his decisions—will diminish the credibility of his words in the military arena.
