---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Well, for 18 months he's been running on…"
description: "\"Well, for 18 months he's been running on this tax plan. And now, five weeks before the election, he's saying that his big, bold idea is, 'Never mind.'\"..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f54/barack-obama-17_trump_well-for-18-months-he-s-been-running-on_2337619.jpg"
---

#  Well, for 18 months he's been running on this tax plan…

![“Well, for 18 months he's been running on this tax plan. And now, five weeks before the election, he's saying that his big, bold idea is, 'Never mind.'” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f54/barack-obama-17_trump_well-for-18-months-he-s-been-running-on_2337619.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f54/barack-obama-17_trump_well-for-18-months-he-s-been-running-on_2337619.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f54/barack-obama-17_trump_well-for-18-months-he-s-been-running-on_2337619.jpg)

> “Well, for 18 months he's been running on this tax plan. And now, five weeks before the election, he's saying that his big, bold idea is, 'Never mind.'”

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He abandoned a previously promoted tax policy shortly before voters decide, showing political flexibility or opportunism.

**In simple terms:** He dropped his tax plan before the election.

Key Takeaway

Policies can change quickly before votes.

Themes

politics policy election leadership

Mood

skeptical critical

Type

political strategic

When to use this quote

- voter decisions
- policy debates
- media analysis

Key Concepts

public opinion strategic timing campaign promises

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do leaders reverse positions near elections?
- How does this affect voter confidence?

A Different Perspective

Such last‑minute changes can erode public trust.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [“when that day until this day, time still took months of running together, past week, to meet, to the year”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ys-sroyer/when-that-day-until-this-day-time-still-took-months-of-running/)

[ys sroyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ys-sroyer/)

> [As soon as I came in as leader, we had seven weeks to an election, so we had to be entirely focused on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacinda-ardern/as-soon-as-i-came-in-as-leader-we-had-seven-weeks-to-an-election-so/)

[Jacinda Ardern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacinda-ardern/)

> [Every three weeks before an election the TV ads expressing great concern about our trade policy and the loss of jobs to China and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/every-three-weeks-before-an-election-the-tv-ads-expressing-great/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [My tax plan will cut taxes for 95 percent of workers, because we need to put money back into the pockets of struggling middle-class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/my-tax-plan-will-cut-taxes-for-95-percent-of-workers-because-we-need/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [It is not Reaganesque to support a tax plan that is Clinton in nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/it-is-not-reaganesque-to-support-a-tax-plan-that-is-clinton-in-nature/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [According to an analysis by the Tax Policy Center, Donald Trump's tax plan is going to increase the national debt by more than 50…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-o-donnell/according-to-an-analysis-by-the-tax-policy-center-donald-trump-s-tax/)

[Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-o-donnell/)

> [What the Trump tax plan is a plan to give tiny little tax cuts to most Americans, raise taxes on perhaps one in five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cay-johnston/what-the-trump-tax-plan-is-a-plan-to-give-tiny-little-tax-cuts-to/)

[David Cay Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cay-johnston/)

> [ We all want to know what taxes we would pay under \[Donald Trump\] tax plan. That's a question. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellyanne-conway/we-all-want-to-know-what-taxes-we-would-pay-under-donald-trump-tax/)

[Kellyanne Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellyanne-conway/)

> [Wes Clark put forward a middle class tax plan, but it only helps a quarter of middle class families, none without minor children at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lieberman/wes-clark-put-forward-a-middle-class-tax-plan-but-it-only-helps-a/)

[Joe Lieberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lieberman/)

> [Actually, Congress just did pass a tax plan like Donald Trump's.They passed a tax plan which some Democrats voted for, significant number of Democrats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-o-donnell/actually-congress-just-did-pass-a-tax-plan-like-donald-trump-s-they/)

[Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-o-donnell/)

> [Trump has a pro-economic-growth tax plan, and we are sensitive to the cost of that plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mnuchin/trump-has-a-pro-economic-growth-tax-plan-and-we-are-sensitive-to-the/)

[Steve Mnuchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mnuchin/)

> [ Independent experts have looked at what I've proposed and looked at what Donald's \[Trump\] proposed, and basically they've said this, that if his tax… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/independent-experts-have-looked-at-what-i-ve-proposed-and-looked-at/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [It's fundamentally unfair to have so much of the tax relief go to so few. And it is a 10-year tax plan rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-graham/it-s-fundamentally-unfair-to-have-so-much-of-the-tax-relief-go-to-so/)

[Bob Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-graham/)

> [Trump has to do what Reagan did. Trump's gotta go on the air and tell us what his tax plan is and put it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-baio/trump-has-to-do-what-reagan-did-trump-s-gotta-go-on-the-air-and-tell/)

[Scott Baio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-baio/)

> [Analysis of President Bush's tax plan has revealed that several elaborate tricks and gimmicks were used to make it look like a $1.35 trillion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/analysis-of-president-bush-s-tax-plan-has-revealed-that-several/)

[Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/)

## More by Barack Obama

> [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

[Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

## More Trump quotes

> [That we have the vote means nothing. That we use it in the right way means everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-henry-hoover/that-we-have-the-vote-means-nothing-that-we-use-it-in-the-right-way/)

[Lou Henry Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-henry-hoover/)

> [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [It is only because of the love of masses that I am campaigning for the SP.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaya-prada/it-is-only-because-of-the-love-of-masses-that-i-am-campaigning-for/)

[Jaya Prada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaya-prada/)

> [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/)

[Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/)

> [I'm not here trying to convince anybody to vote for Donald Trump. I think every Christian needs to make up his own mind about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/i-m-not-here-trying-to-convince-anybody-to-vote-for-donald-trump-i/)

[Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/)

> [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/)

[Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/)

> [ Ben Carson also denounced \[Donald\] Trump's ban all Muslims proposal saying we do not and would not advocate being selective on one's religion. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/ben-carson-also-denounced-donald-trump-s-ban-all-muslims-proposal/)

[Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/)

> [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/)

Brian Reade

> [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/)

[Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/)

> [“Jim Reston: Walking through the crowds of air-kissing politicians, actors and high fliers, it was tough to tell where the politics stopped and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/jim-reston-walking-through-the-crowds-of-air-kissing-politicians/)

[Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/)

> [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/)

[Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/)

> [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [You need to remind people that you vote, you matter, and that they can't succeed without your help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-need-to-remind-people-that-you-vote-you-matter-and-that-they-can/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I really like John McCain. He's an awesome dude and was a lot of fun when he hosted "SNL." I'd love to see a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/i-really-like-john-mccain-he-s-an-awesome-dude-and-was-a-lot-of-fun/)

[Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/)

Browse all 27,810 Trump quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Well, for 18 months he's been running on this tax plan. And now, five weeks before the election, he's saying that his big, bold idea is, 'Never mind.'",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Barack Obama"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/well-for-18-months-he-s-been-running-on-this-tax-plan-and-now-five/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Trump"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/well-for-18-months-he-s-been-running-on-this-tax-plan-and-now-five/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f54/barack-obama-17_trump_well-for-18-months-he-s-been-running-on_2337619.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f54/barack-obama-17_trump_well-for-18-months-he-s-been-running-on_2337619.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f54/barack-obama-17_trump_well-for-18-months-he-s-been-running-on_2337619.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Well, for 18 months he's been running on this tax plan. And now, five weeks before the election, he's saying…” — Barack Obama",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Barack Obama",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Well, for 18 months he's been...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/well-for-18-months-he-s-been-running-on-this-tax-plan-and-now-five/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/well-for-18-months-he-s-been-running-on-this-tax-plan-and-now-five/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
