From FAFO to TACO - the terms that define Trump 2.0

In Cunk on Earth, Philomena Cunk asked an expert after looking at an old cave painting: “If someone shouted this aloud, would that have been the first audiobook?” The bewildered replied in the negative, but right now, shouting out loud seems to be the only option. In 2024, while announcing that Donald Trump had been declared Time magazine’s Person of the Year, an SNL Weekend Update co-host joked: “Donald Trump has been named Time's Person of the Year, because no person on earth has taken up more of our goddamn time.” It has been exactly one year since Trump took the oath (Jan 20, 2025), and even Lenin’s quote (“There are decades when nothing happens and weeks when decades happen”) feels inadequately reductive to explain what has happened since Trump took oath for the second time on January 20, 2025.

Perhaps we should take the Kantian route and try to explain the world through terms. So here are some terms from the second Trump administration to try and decode what’s going on.Agenda 47The encompassing term used to describe MAGA’s plan to test one sentence of the US Constitution: “The executive power shall be vested in a president of the United States of America.”America FirstOriginally a World War II isolationist slogan, revived by Trump, to indicate that America no longer even pretends to care what the world thinks.

AutopenThe picture hanging at the White House Walk of Fame instead of Joseph Biden, used to indicate that Trump’s predecessor wasn’t fully aware of what was going on.CeasefireSomething the POTUS does before every breakfast, irrespective of whether opponents are firing or have ceased firing.DaddyThe term used by NATO General Secretary Mark Rutte to describe Donald Trump. No further explanation needed.Deep stateA shadow cabal responsible for everything wrong with America.

George Soros is somehow involved.DOGEAn organisation run by Trump’s former BFF Elon Musk to slash bureaucracy and ask bureaucrats the one question they dread most: “What did you get done this week?”Donroe DoctrineThe Donroe Doctrine, used as a follow-up to the Monroe Doctrine to describe Trump’s foreign policy. It can be summed up in five tenets:

Epstein FilesSomething that MAGA believed was explosive before Trump came to power and now thinks is absolutely inconsequential.FAFOInternet slang for “F*** Around, Find Out.” In the Trumpian world, it refers to anyone who displeases him, which shall be met with the wrath of extraction. Ask Nicolas Maduro, who learned that only one man is allowed to dance.FilibusterA US Senate tactic allowing senators to block legislation by prolonging debate, which Trump wants to get rid of because his legislation is being blocked.GreenlandA part of the world that Trump really, realy wants.Gunboat DiplomacySomething that sounds like it came from Pirates of the Caribbean but is actually America’s new foreign policy for dealing with boat survivors.H-1BSomething Indian-Americans are using to get jobs from deserving Trump supporters.ICEA hard-working group of law enforcement officers who love hanging out with suburban white women.MAGAMake America Go Away. A slogan increasingly popular in Greenland and other parts of Europe.MAHA“Make America Healthy Again.” A MAGA-adjacent slogan often linked to RFK Jr-style scepticism of pharma, vaccines, and food systems.Madman DiplomacyUsed earlier to describe Nixon’s politics, where unpredictability scared rivals, but in this case has people wondering: if it’s really a madman, is it a madman policy?NATO freeloadersA term Trump loves using to describe Europe’s desire to take a siesta instead of work, and how it’s no longer picking up the cheque or even going Dutch.NewscumTrump’s favourite term for the California governor, who was once married to his ambassador to Greece and also happens to be his son’s ex-fiancée.No KingsA protest slogan used by anti-Trumpers throughout America and even Europe. A little ironical when used in countries like the United Kingdom, which actually has kings.

Nobel Peace PrizeSomething Obama got and Trump deserves, and which Machado handed over but the Nobel Committee said she couldn’t.One Big Beautiful BillA magical bill that will solve all of America’s financial problems. No connection to former President Clinton.PajeetA racist term often used by hardcore Trumpers to describe Indians online, which has become increasingly common on Musk’s X. No one quite knows what it means.Panican / PanicansA Trump original used to describe people panicking over markets, wars, or his policies, applied to both Republicans and Democrats.Project 2025An ostensible plan that everyone knew about but no one took seriously until it was too late.Reverse TariffsA rhetorical idea to address the trade deficit based on a broken formula that no one can understand, much like reverse swing bowling in the 90s.Self-deportationA set of immigration policies designed to scare migrants into leaving voluntarily.

Spheres of InfluenceAn idea of the world in which big powers control their territories while ignoring international law. Reminiscent of world geography in George Orwell’s 1984.TACOAn acronym mocking market volatility around Trump’s policies, standing for “Trump Always Chickens Out,” used to mock Trump for threatening tariffs before delaying them.TariffsSomething used to threaten all countries, all the time, over trade. At this moment, it is impossible to calculate who is paying how much, since it keeps changing every day.