AP: Trump's Pattern of Backing Down Before Ultimatums Seen Repeatedly After Comeback

The Associated Press reported that Sharif today earlier posted on social media platform X, urging Trump to extend the deadline by two weeks to allow diplomatic efforts to progress. Pakistan has been leading the relevant negotiations. Sharif also requested Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks in the same post.

Trump stated that he would withdraw the threat of expanding attacks, which included a series of civilian targets such as bridges and power plants, but only if Iran was prepared to accept a two-week ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump posted on his social media platform this evening, stating that Iran could agree to 'completely, immediately, and safely open the Strait of Hormuz,' and said he would then 'pause bombing and attacks on Iran for two weeks.'

Since the war broke out in February, Trump has set a series of deadlines threatening to escalate the conflict, but each time he has backed down before the deadline expired.

Trump's second presidential term has largely been characterized by a penchant for issuing intimidating threats. However, once strong backlash is triggered, he chooses to retreat, a phenomenon critics have jokingly called 'Trump Always Chickens Out' (TACO).

Trump first announced massive 'Liberation Day' tariffs in April 2025, but subsequently withdrew many of the originally planned tariffs due to severe turbulence in financial markets.

He also largely abandoned threats to impose high tariffs on many imported products from trade partners such as China, Mexico, the European Union (EU), and Canada.

Perhaps the most striking example occurred during the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos in January this year, when Trump insisted he wanted the United States to acquire Greenland, 'including rights, title, and ownership,' but then quickly changed course, abandoning the threat of widespread taxation on Europe to exert pressure. (Compiled by Chang Hsiao-wen) 1150408