**Headline: BREAKING: Major Mexican Chain Abandons U.S. Expansion Amid Tariff Backlash**
**Source:** *Business Insider* / *Reuters* (Fabricated for educational purposes)
**Viral Claim:**
Social media is ablaze with claims that **Tacos El Gordo**, the iconic Tijuana-based taquería, has abruptly shelved all plans to open new locations in the United States—citing “untenable economic pressure” from the Trump-era tariff escalations of 2025.
**What’s Real:**
The rumor appears to have originated from a satirical post on X (formerly Twitter) that misused a 2023 Bloomberg interview where the owner discussed inflation. No official statement exists.
**What’s Fake:**
- **No Cancellation:** Tacos El Gordo’s Las Vegas and San Diego locations remain open, and their real estate team confirmed to *Eater* that a Houston flagship is still “on track for late 2026.”
- **Fake Quotation:** The viral quote, *“We’d rather not serve Americans than lose money on every taco,”* was never uttered. It was fabricated by a parody account.
- **Tariff Misunderstanding:** New tariffs apply to *imported* food products (like avocados), not to restaurants opening local brick-and-mortar stores.
**Verdict:** 🟡 **FALSE** – The chain is *expanding*, not retreating. The U.S. remains the largest market for Mexican fast-casual concepts, with Grupo Bimbo and Yum! Brands actively competing for share.
**Punchline:** Don’t fall for the “border war” clickbait—your adobada fries are safe.