About a year ago, Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself dressed as a mob boss next to a sign that said “FAFO.” Since then, he’s been working the acronym into his official media presence with gusto. The term was popular within the African American and military communities for years. The latter popularized it in segments of the MAGA movement long before Trump seemed aware of it; and it was adopted by the Left in the “never-Trump” movement. Now, since it’s reached the Oval Office, it’s all over the internet within right-leaning and left-leaning environments.
The acronym stands for, politely, “fool around and find out.” In actual parlance, including in the president’s own posts and words, users exchange “fool” for a different “f” word.
FAFO can be a merely descriptive warning about our world. It can be a warning to peers or children that our negative actions have negative consequences. Politically, it can refer to a “get tough” set of policies that in many respects are welcome and overdue. Enforcing our existing immigration laws, keeping streets safe, standing up for American interests in foreign policy, etc.—these are contexts in which Trump himself has used the term.
But FAFO isn’t merely descriptive. It’s also aspirational. It’s
