Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

A Draft of Donald Trump's New Trade Bill Just Leaked and Its Unfortunate Name Has Twitter Cackling

A Draft of Donald Trump's New Trade Bill Just Leaked and Its Unfortunate Name Has Twitter Cackling
U.S. president Donald Trump speaks to supporters during a 'Make America Great Again' rally with thousands in attendance at Scheels Arena on June 27, 2018 in Fargo, North Dakota. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The jokes write themselves.

The United States government, like most massive organizations in the world, speaks a language laden in acronyms. Every government agency has one as do all the top officials.

POTUS is President of the United States. FLOTUS signifies the First Lady. DACA is Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. DoD is the Department of Defense.


Some government acronyms are fixed, based on what they signify, such as POTUS, FLOTUS, and the acronyms for older government agencies like USN, FTC, BIA and FBI. But newer programs and agencies spend some time choosing their title so they can create an acronym they want.

It's no accident that ICE, an agency formed in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks under the newly created Department of Homeland Security, is called ICE. They could just as easily be CIE or ICS or any other combination of letters to represent a law enforcement agency in charge of customs and immigration. But they chose Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Why? Because ICE sounds cooler.

Nowhere is the government acronym dance more prevalent than in naming laws and executive actions. In order to garner support, the public needs to know about your bill or policy and rally behind it.

But the full names of government actions are difficult for the public to remember and don't roll off the tongue. That's where a short, catchy, easily remembered acronym comes in handy.

People will remember it, talk about it and share it on social media even if they don't know what each letter in your acronym stands for. The DREAM Act is a perfect example of good wording used to create a memorable acronym.

And that is why anyone familiar with the government acronym game is dumbfounded by the Trump administration's latest move.

President Donald Trump (POTUS) is planning to leave the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and adopt a new trade bill for the United States (USA). But that bill needed a name.

And it got a good one. One few people are likely to forget. Of all the configurations available, the POTUS chose United States Fair and Reciprocal Tariff Act.

The resulting acronyms?

  • US FaRT Act
  • FaRT Act
  • FaRT

Suddenly we're all 10 years old again. Except now we have Twitter.

Needless to say, once word of the new Trump FaRT broke, the internet could not help but take notice.

Some folks from across the Atlantic were kind enough to point out that in their slang, to trump means to fart.

But University of Wisconsin-Madison professor of government, Don Moynihan, offered his own unique analysis.

More from People/donald-trump

Screenshot of George Santos; Zohran Mamdani
@MrSantosNY/X; Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

George Santos Announced He's Leaving New York After Mamdani's Win—And The Responses Are Brutal

Disgraced former New York Republican Representative George Santos was widely mocked after he announced he will leave New York City now that Zohran Mamdani has won the mayoral election.

Mamdani has sent shockwaves around the world with his win; an unapologetic democratic socialist, he took on the establishment and won despite months of Islamophobic and racist attacks from the right-wing.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of man collapsing and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. preparing to walk out
@atrupar/X

RFK Jr. Dragged For Bolting Out Of Oval Office The Moment A Man Collapsed During Press Briefing

Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was criticized after hurrying out of a press briefing in the Oval Office on Thursday after a man had a medical emergency and suddenly collapsed.

Kennedy was on hand alongside President Donald Trump, Dr. Mehmet Oz—the current Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services—and health aides for a press briefing announcing lower costs for weight loss drugs.

Keep ReadingShow less

Times People Saw Someone Almost Die Due To Their Own Actions

All actions have consequences, some more negative and severe than others.

But sometimes, someone will do something so extreme or stupid, it could almost cost them their life.

Keep ReadingShow less

Cancer Patients Explain Which Symptoms Ultimately Led Them To See A Doctor

Cancer has taken far too many lives and affected far too many people.

Where is a cure?

Keep ReadingShow less
Close-up shot of the number 30 painted on asphalt.
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

People Over 30 Share Their Biggest Regrets In Life

Life goes by in a flash.

When we're young, we tend to laugh off that statement.

Keep ReadingShow less