Former President Donald Trump has introduced a new term, “PANICAN,” which he coined in a post on his Truth Social platform on Monday. The term, a portmanteau of “panic” and “Americans,” or “panic” and “Republicans,” depending on whom you ask, has caused a titanic amount of debate among political types. Trump first used it to reassure Americans about his vastly unpopular tariffs.
In his post, Trump wrote, “Don’t be a PANICAN (A new party based on Weak and Stupid people!).” His declaration hung everyone on the hook. It was silent on who exactly he intended to designate as “PANICANS,” leading to rampant speculation by political reporters and supporters per various factions. Incredibly troubled by the term was Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of the loudest congressional proponents of Trump. Needless to say, she did not hesitate to re-tweet it, greatly multiplying its reach.
Sadly for Greene, her championing of Trump’s tariffs has been met with severe criticism from some of the most powerful members of Trump’s own party. Key Republican Members of Congress and business leaders have been very vocal about their opposition to his trade policies. One of President Trump’s most high-profile economic advisors, Elon Musk, has recently been said to be against the tariffs and lobbied for their reversal.
The criticism doesn’t stop with the Republican Party – Democratic leaders and foreign heads of state have decried Trump’s double-crossing tariffs. Specifically, prominent figures from Wall Street have come out against this dissent, arguing that something isn’t quite working with Trump’s trade strategy. Critics maintain that this blunt-instrument approach to enforcement will not deliver the benefits promised and even poses meaningful risks to the U.S. economy.
In justifying his tariffs, Trump argues that the United States has been a victim of unfair trading practices for far too long. That’s because he genuinely thinks the policies he’s pursuing will create jobs and manufacturing on American shores. He highlighted the importance of strength and resilience in dealing with these economic headwinds.
“The United States has a chance to do something that should have been done DECADES AGO. Don’t be Weak! Don’t be Stupid! Don’t be a PANICAN (A new party based on Weak and Stupid people!). Be Strong, Courageous, and Patient, and GREATNESS will be the result!” – Donald Trump
Many, such as conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, are concerned by the things Trump is promising. Shapiro stated, “The idea that this is inherently good and makes the American economy strong is wrongheaded. It is untrue.” He went on to argue that the idea you could get a significant reshoring of manufacturing through tariffs is misdirected too.
Additionally, Pete Sessions, a Republican Congressman from Texas, voiced his opposition to the tariffs, stating, “All Texans believe that a tariff is a tax and it’s not in America’s best interest, nor people in the free world, to pay that extra money.” This sentiment is a sign of the increasing concern among Republicans that Trump’s tariffs, in the end, might do more harm than good.
As conversations about Trump’s tariffs have shifted, the word PANICAN has started to get more buzz. Now, it has become a national focal point for the law’s supporters and critics. In other quarters, though, they view it as a Neanderthal-level rallying cry to fight against weakness. Still others see it as a reflection of the larger confusion in the party.