Washington Examiner, February 2026
President Donald Trump’s critics say he follows a predictable cycle: sow chaos, issue sweeping threats, and then retreat under pressure. The left has even coined a nickname — TACO, or “Trump Always Chickens Out.” But supporters argue what looks like retreat is often tactical recalibration. Supporters say that Trump is scoring wins and ensuring both domestic political opponents and international allies make concessions. Trump has always used “disruption and chaos as a negotiating tool,” according to Republican strategist Cesar Conda.
“He creates uncertainty on purpose, sees how the other side reacts when they’re uncomfortable, and then adjusts his next move from a position of strength,” Conda told the Washington Examiner. “I think what looks like chaos from the outside is often very intentional — it keeps people guessing and forces them to negotiate on his terms.” Yet, those accomplishments do not always register because the same tactics Trump uses to get results — threats and bluster — inflate the stakes and provide opponents with the opportunity to downplay concessions, while pointing to Trump’s own retreat from maximalization.
