Rep. Eric Swalwell Inspires MAGA Tizzy Fit By... Eating A Taco
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) trolled the hell out of Donald Trump and his supporters this past weekend just by eating a taco on TikTok.
The California Democrat posted a video of himself sitting in his office when someone walks up and asks, 'Hey, Congressman, what the fuck is up with Trump always chickening out on tariffs?'
Swalwell responds by biting into a Taco Bell crunchy taco that just happens to be sitting on his desk.
The video alludes to TACO, or 'Trump Always Chickens Out,' a reference to the president's tendency to announce huge tariffs, only to reverse course days later.
The notoriously thin-skinned president doesn't seem fond of the acronym and chewed out a reporter for asking 'a nasty question' about it last week.
Swalwell's taco TikTok made quite an impact with conservatives. Some suggested the video was part of the Democratic National Committee's plan to attract more male voters to the party.
MEN? Eric Swalwell is kicking off the Democrat's $20 million effort to attract young men to the party. What do you say guys? Want to share a taco with Eric? pic.twitter.com/F7W1Uhj9Qq
— @amuse (@amuse) June 2, 2025
Fox News' 'Outnumbered' even did a segment on it.
Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA) attempts to troll President Trump over his tariff policies by eating a taco.Will this video win over more voters for the Democratic party? pic.twitter.com/IYOBuIgKNw
— Outnumbered (@OutnumberedFNC) June 2, 2025
Swalwell seemed amused by the attention, tweeting, 'I don't know what this Fox News lady ate for lunch, but she's talking about what I had.'
Other Trump supporters got into a MAGA tizzy over Swalwell's video.
Eric Swalwell is a fucking idiot. He thinks eating a taco supreme crunchy at that effect's president Trump. The Democrats have lost their fucking minds. They're idiots. They lie and they're out of control. pic.twitter.com/Kp1k5ctJCe
— Foxwatcher@army.com (@ArmyMosher4) June 2, 2025
Eric Swalwell is as fake (and as carcinogenic) as the "meat" in that Taco Bell. https://t.co/cqp6k69H1Z
— Chesty (@ChestyPullerGst) June 2, 2025
Pretty brave of Swalwell to eat Taco Bell while being filmed for a video 🤣 Wonder how many takes they had to do 💀 pic.twitter.com/Rjnm6uflIn
— Sara Rose 🇺🇸🌹 (@saras76) June 2, 2025
A couple of right-wing outlets, probably well aware of the trending term, apparently decided that feigning ignorance was the right way to go.
VERY ODD: Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell posts a video using the f-word while he eats a tacoWhat was the point of this??? pic.twitter.com/8gUJ61BdWB
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) June 2, 2025
Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell (CA) posts a bizarre video on social media where the person recording drops the f-bomb, and the Congressmen silently eats a taco. Cameraman: What the f*ck is up with Trump always chickening out on tariffs?' Swalwell: *Eats a taco pic.twitter.com/v3Wywig4yi
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) June 2, 2025
Others felt obliged to reference an MSNBC interview between Swalwell and Chris Matthews from November 2019, in which a fart sound could be heard at one point.
Eric Swalwell is the absolute last person who should be eating Taco Bell, especially in an enclosed space. https://t.co/Is58qdNY8T
— JawjaJim 🇺🇸 (@JimJawja) June 2, 2025
For the sake of all mankind, let's hope that Eric Swalwell did NOT eat refried beans with that taco.
— Soquel by the Creek (@SoquelCreek) June 2, 2025
Although Trump supporters tried to dismiss the trolling, 'Trump Always Chickens Out' is catching on, according to one conservative thought leader.
Rick Lowry of the National Review appeared on Fox News Sunday and admitted 'TACO' is sticking, much to Trump's chagrin.
'Apparently, Trump was irritated in part because he hadn't heard it, and afterwards was irked with his aides not telling him about this,' Lowry said, before admitting that the 'TACO' insult is 'catchy, kind of funny and gets to a real phenomenon with the tariffs, which [is that] he's backed off them.'
Trump Short-Circuits Over Wall Street's 4-Letter Slogan For Him
'Utterly Embarrassing': Critics Cluck Back At Trump After Bizarre 'Chicken' Meltdown
2028 Might Be The Year Of The Beard For Presidential Hopefuls
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Japan's high-tech sunscreens tap into skincare craze
When YouTuber Hannah Price set out to compare Japanese and Australian sunscreen, she wasn't expecting her deep dive into the subject to rack up over two million views. The huge number of people poring over Price's video shows the growing interest in skincare products from Japan, much like the K-beauty phenomenon from South Korea. It includes sun protection, increasingly recognised as a daily essential by influencers who want to shield their skin from ageing and enthuse about the lightweight texture of Japanese brands. Companies that have perfected their secret formulas want to capitalise on booming demand, including by building factories overseas and selling to Japan's record influx of foreign tourists. Price, 32, fell into a "year-long rabbit hole" while making her video, learning about everything from SPF science to cultural attitudes to sun exposure. "I always loved Japanese sunscreen, since I first moved to Japan in 2012," she told AFP at her studio in Tokyo. "I remember trying it for the first time and thinking, 'this is so much better than anything I tried in Australia'," her home country where sun cream felt "thick, sticky, greasy". "I thought that the video would be popular... but I wasn't expecting it to reach as far" as it did, Price said. The habit of regular sunscreen use is spreading, especially among younger generations, said Takuya Wada, who works in marketing for Japanese chemical and cosmetics firm Kao. "There are no borders when it comes to obtaining information on social media, especially Instagram and TikTok," he said, adding that influencer posts have a "very large" impact on global sunscreen sales. - 'Beautifully white' - The global skincare market was worth more than $115 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to $194 billion by 2032, according to Fortune Business Insights. A boom in celebrity skincare brands has contributed to the industry's growth -- with A-listers like Kylie Jenner using social media to share their beauty routines, including sun protection, with hundreds of millions of followers. When it comes to sunscreen, country-specific regulations mean no single company dominates the field, as the entry barriers to new markets are higher. Kao's main sunscreen brand Biore UV is ranked 10th worldwide for sales, and second in Asia -- competing with the likes of L'Oreal and Beiersdorf, and Japanese rivals such as Shiseido. The company wants sales from sun protection to reach 35 billion yen ($240 million) in 2027, up 1.6 times from 2023. It plans to boost overseas production by opening three new sunscreen factories, in Indonesia, Brazil and Germany. It is technically difficult to develop formulas that block the rays effectively with a smooth texture, as demanded by Japanese consumers, said Takashi Fukui, research and development director for Kao skincare products. But using scientific know-how to strike this tricky balance is what makes Kao "different from other European or American makers". In Japan, a cultural obsession with light skin dates back to the sixth century and using white powder imported from China later became a status symbol among nobility. Fair skin indicated a life away from outdoor labour and sun exposure, and an old Japanese proverb says "white skin covers the seven flaws". In the 1990s, people began using sunscreen or other cosmetics to avoid tanning -- a trend dubbed "bihaku", or beautifully white. These days, Japanese women use sunscreen as everyday protection against sunspots and ageing, caused when UV rays penetrate into the skin, said Fukui. - Winter sun - Tans have long been fashionable in Western countries, but awareness of skin cancer risks is rising, making sunscreen an important healthcare product there, Fukui said. One fan of Japanese brands is Thai skincare influencer Suari Tasanakulpan, who calls them "lightweight" compared to "heavy and uncomfortable" Western offerings. "There are always new technologies and innovative textures that are often ahead of other countries," the 40-year-old, who reviews sunscreens on YouTube, told AFP. At an outlet of drugstore chain MatsukiyoCocokara in Tokyo's Shibuya district, around 90 sunscreen products are lined up on the shelves. "Sales of sunscreen is improving year on year," said Takeshi Otsuki, deputy manager of the chain's cosmetic division. "More people are using sunscreen on a daily basis these days, so their needs are becoming more diverse," he said. The number of male customers is also increasing, and Japanese sunscreens are very popular with overseas tourists who buy them in multipacks, Otsuki said. While summer is high season, sunscreen is popular year-round, because Japan has a "relatively high number of sunny days in the winter, and the sunlight hours are long". YouTuber Price now uses both Japanese and Australian sunscreen, depending on the occasion. She sees the rise in education about sunscreens worldwide as a win-win situation. It "means you're going to be better protected in general, which is great for everyone", she said. nf/kaf/ecl/fox Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Trump considers extending TikTok deadline. Is third time a charm?
Will the third time be the charm for TikTok's future? With another extension deadline in two weeks, the social media platform's future lies in the hands of President Donald Trump. In January, TikTok went dark for 12 hours in the United States when China-based ByteDance failed to divest the app's U.S. assets, as required by law. Since coming into office on Jan. 20, Trump issued two executive orders to extend the ban's deadline, hoping to acquire the short-form video app used by 170 million Americans. But so far, a deal has yet to be struck. The next deadline is June 19. A plan had been in the works that would spin off TikTok's American operation into a new firm owned and operated by U.S. investors, but was put on hold, according to Reuters, after China would not approve it following Trump's announcements of steep tariffs on its goods. During an NBC News interview in May, Trump said he would extend the deadline a third time if a deal isn't made by the June 19 deadline. 'I'd like to see it done,' Trump said during the interview. The president added that he has a 'little sweet spot' in his heart for TikTok, which he claims helped him win votes during the 2024 presidential election. 'It'll be protected. It'll be very strongly protected. But if it needs an extension, I would be willing to give it an extension.' The White House declined to comment about a potential TikTok sale. It is unclear. If ByteDance does not divest TikTok by Thursday, June 19, the platform could be banned in the United States again. However, Trump has said that if the sale isn't finalized in time, he will extend the deadline again. This, too, is unclear. Under federal legislation that put the TikTok ban in place, the president can implement a 90-day extension on the deadline to sell. But Trump didn't take this route in January or April. Instead, he signed executive orders delaying the ban by 75 days. If Trump wishes to sign another executive order ahead of the June 19 deadline, he can. While it's within Trump's discretion to sign executive orders to delay the ban, there may be a time when Congress sees it fit to pass a law ordering a firm deadline, John Acevedo, Emory University School of Law professor, told Spectrum News in April. But just because the executive orders are within Trump's authority doesn't mean everyone is happy with his decisions. 'The deadline for Trump to follow the law passed 135 days ago. It is shocking that a bipartisan-backed law, signed by the former president and upheld by the Supreme Court, is being treated like a mere suggestion by the White House,' said Stephen Kent, Consumer Choice Center media director, in a news release. Former President Joe Biden signed federal legislation in 2024 that gave ByteDance until Jan. 19, 2025 to divest TikTok or face a ban in the U.S. Some politicians see TikTok as a national security threat, expressing concern that ByteDance may be sharing U.S. user data with the Chinese government. ByteDance has denied these claims, which remain unsubstantiated. However, ByteDance did not divest in time. In January, TikTok went dark for a little more than 12 hours in the U.S. after the app was effectively banned. U.S. internet hosting services made TikTok unavailable to access, and app stores removed the app for download. During the short-lived shutdown, Trump promised internet hosting services and app stores that they could restore TikTok and not face legal penalties. Under the federal legislation, companies could be fined $5,000 per user they help access TikTok. For companies like Google and Apple, this could mean a $5,000 fine for each user who downloads or updates TikTok. Internet hosting services like Oracle didn't waste time rebooting the app, but it wasn't until Feb. 13 that TikTok became available again in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump to decide Tiktok's fate no later than June 19
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Is TikTok getting banned? Trump says he'll 'probably' extend deadline again
President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he will "probably" extend the TikTok ban deadline yet again before its expiration on Thursday, June 19. "We probably have to get China approval. I think we'll get it," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday, June 17. "I think (Chinese) President Xi will ultimately approve it." TikTok, a short-form video app, went dark for about 12 hours in January when China-based ByteDance failed to divest the app's U.S. assets, as required by federal law. Since coming into office on Jan. 20, Trump has issued two executive orders to extend the ban's deadline. But so far, a deal has yet to be struck, and the next deadline is Thursday, June 19. When asked by reporters if he has the legal basis to extend the deadline again, Trump said, "Yes, I do." If ByteDance does not divest TikTok by Thursday, June 19, the platform could be banned in the U.S. again. However, Trump has repeatedly signaled he would extend the deadline if the sale isn't finalized in time. Under federal legislation that put the TikTok ban in place, the president can implement a 90-day extension on the deadline to sell. But Trump didn't take this route in January or April. Instead, he signed executive orders delaying the ban by 75 days. If Trump wishes to sign another executive order ahead of the June 19 deadline, he can. Former President Joe Biden signed federal legislation in 2024 that gave ByteDance until Jan. 19, 2025 to divest TikTok or face a ban in the U.S. Some politicians see TikTok as a national security threat, expressing concern that ByteDance may be sharing U.S. user data with the Chinese government. ByteDance has denied these claims, which remain unsubstantiated. However, ByteDance did not divest in time. In January, TikTok went dark for a little more than 12 hours in the U.S. after the app was effectively banned. U.S. internet hosting services made TikTok unavailable to access, and app stores removed the app for download. During the short-lived shutdown, Trump promised internet hosting services and app stores that they could restore TikTok and not face legal penalties. Under the federal legislation, companies could be fined $5,000 per user they help access TikTok. For companies like Google and Apple, this could mean a $5,000 fine for each user who downloads or updates TikTok. It wasn't until Feb. 13 that TikTok became available again in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. This story will be updated. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: TikTok ban: Trump says he'll 'probably' extend deadline again