The Democratic National Committee’s attempt to mock President Trump with a taco truck stunt outside Republican headquarters spectacularly backfired, drawing ridicule from conservatives nationwide. Featuring an image of Trump in a chicken suit alongside the slogan “Trump Always Chickens Out” (TACO), the campaign aimed to criticize his tariff policies. Will this misstep cause Democrats to stop using the acronym?
Taco Truck Trolling Gone Wrong
The Democratic National Committee’s attempt to mock President Trump with a taco truck outside Republican headquarters became an instant source of ridicule rather than effective political commentary. The custom-wrapped food truck featured Trump in a chicken suit with the slogan “Trump Always Chickens Out” (TACO), a phrase reportedly used by Wall Street analysts regarding Trump’s tariff policies.
DNC Chair Ken Martin explained the stunt’s purpose, stating, “Trump always chickens out — we’re just bringing the tacos to match.” The event was designed to criticize Trump’s approach to negotiating tariffs, suggesting he “talks a big game, caves, and then leaves working families and small businesses to deal with the fallout.”
Just stopped by the Trump always chickens out taco truck. They were already sold out. pic.twitter.com/vARilsVwy0
— Rob (@RobMcGravytrain) June 3, 2025
Republican Response and Mockery
Vice President JD Vance quickly dismissed the stunt, calling Democrats “the lamest opposition in American history.” The criticism wasn’t limited to high-profile Republicans, as conservative commentators across social media platforms joined in ridiculing the Democrats’ messaging attempt.
Republican National Committee communications director Zach Parkinson mocked the effort, sarcastically questioning if Democrats would offer “free vasectomies” next. Christian Martinez, a Republican press secretary, accused Democrats of relying on “cheap gimmicks and free handouts” rather than substantive policy discussions.
I caught them packing up. The truck, run by Vandal Taco, seemed to have some agreement with the two gentleman helping him pack up the sign. They said “we’ll square up with you later” and “we’ll definitely use you again in the future.”
So look out for more of this @DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/KNP1hMmbxp
— Rob (@RobMcGravytrain) June 3, 2025
Operational Failures Compound Embarrassment
Adding to the Democrats’ embarrassment, NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella revealed the taco truck was initially parked at the wrong location – a church a block away from the actual RNC headquarters. The truck, scheduled to serve free tacos between noon and 2 PM, reportedly left early, further fueling conservative mockery about the Democrats’ organizational competence.
Washington Free Beacon reporter Chuck Ross connected this failure to previous Democratic messaging campaigns, tweeting: “The party that brought you the hugely successful ‘Dark Brandon’ and ‘Republicans are Weird’ campaigns are now going all in on ‘TACO.'” The DNC’s deputy communications director, Abhi Rahman, attempted to counter the criticism by calling JD Vance “the cringiest VP in American history,” but the defensive response did little to salvage the situation.
The taco-themed mockery extended beyond the truck incident, with conservatives also criticizing Representative Eric Swalwell’s TikTok video where he mocked Trump’s tariff strategy while eating a taco. Both attempts at political satire demonstrated the Democrats’ continuing challenge in finding effective messaging against Trump, often resulting in backfired efforts that provide ammunition for their political opponents.