President Donald Trump has once again backed down from threats to strike Iran, announcing a ceasefire agreement just hours after vowing to escalate attacks. The U-turn has reignited criticism of his so-called 'Taco' approach—'Trump Always Chickens Out'—a term coined to describe his pattern of issuing aggressive threats then retreating.
On Thursday, Trump wrote on Truth Social that discussions with Iran had been 'brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved,' leading him to cancel scheduled strikes. This followed a threat to seize Kharg Island and assume control of Iran's oil infrastructure. The reversal is the latest in a series of similar incidents during the conflict.
Earlier in March, Trump issued a 48-hour deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to 'obliterate' its energy infrastructure. He later extended the deadline twice, eventually to 6 April, without carrying out the threat. On 31 March, he again threatened to blow up Kharg Island and power plants, but no strikes followed.
In April, Trump warned of hitting Iran 'extremely hard' and bringing it 'back to the Stone Age,' yet again no immediate action was taken. An Easter Sunday statement threatened 'Hell' if the strait remained closed, and on 7 April he posted that a 'whole civilisation will die tonight,' sparking global condemnation. Hours later, a 14-day ceasefire brokered by Pakistan was announced.
Analysts suggest Trump's U-turns may be a strategy to confuse opponents, but allies like French President Emmanuel Macron have criticised his constant shifts. The latest ceasefire marks another instance where Trump's threats have not been followed through, reinforcing his 'Taco' reputation.
