--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The president said he'd cut the deficit…" description: "\"The president said he'd cut the deficit in half. Unfortunately, he doubled it. Trillion-dollar deficits for the last four years. The president's put it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e03/mitt-romney-268_deficit_the-president-said-he-d-cut-the-deficit_2324214.png" --- # The president said he'd cut the deficit in half… ![“The president said he'd cut the deficit in half. Unfortunately, he doubled it. Trillion-dollar deficits for the last four years. The president's put it in place as much public debt...almost as much debt held by the public as al prior presidents combined.” quote by Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e03/mitt-romney-268_deficit_the-president-said-he-d-cut-the-deficit_2324214.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e03/mitt-romney-268_deficit_the-president-said-he-d-cut-the-deficit_2324214.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e03/mitt-romney-268_deficit_the-president-said-he-d-cut-the-deficit_2324214.png) > “The president said he'd cut the deficit in half. Unfortunately, he doubled it. Trillion-dollar deficits for the last four years. The president's put it in place as much public debt...almost as much debt held by the public as al prior presidents combined.” [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticizes a leader’s broken promise on deficit reduction, noting the deficit actually grew. **In simple terms:** Political promises can be broken. Key Takeaway Demand accountability. Themes politics economics accountability Mood critical analytical Type political skeptical When to use this quote - budget planning - policy analysis - public debates Key Concepts fiscal policy public debt political rhetoric Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms ensure fiscal promises are kept? - How can voters assess credibility of economic claims? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex fiscal issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cut Deficit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cut-deficit-529126/) [Deficit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deficit/) [Deficit Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deficit-half-529127/) [Deficits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deficits/) [Deficits Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deficits-years-5567361/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) ## Related quotes > [You've been president four years. You said you'd cut the deficit in half. It's now four years later. We still have trillion-dollar deficits. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/you-ve-been-president-four-years-you-said-you-d-cut-the-deficit-in/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I think that the difficult thing is for the president to answer to his economic record with the failed stimulus, higher health care costs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/i-think-that-the-difficult-thing-is-for-the-president-to-answer-to/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) > [When Mr. Obama entered office, he said all the right things about getting Washington spending under control. He even promised to cut the deficit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-hegseth/when-mr-obama-entered-office-he-said-all-the-right-things-about/) [Pete Hegseth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-hegseth/) > [I mean, you have said before you'd cut the deficit in half. And this...I love this idea of $4 trillion in cuts. You found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-mean-you-have-said-before-you-d-cut-the-deficit-in-half-and-this-i/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [We're committed to working with Congress to doing what the president said he was always going to do, which is cut the deficit in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-romer/we-re-committed-to-working-with-congress-to-doing-what-the-president/) [Christina Romer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-romer/) > [Fourth, to assure every entrepreneur and every job creator that their investments in America will not vanish as have those in Greece, we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/fourth-to-assure-every-entrepreneur-and-every-job-creator-that-their/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Well, mathematically, there are three ways that you can cut a deficit. One, of course, is to raise taxes. Number two is to cut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/well-mathematically-there-are-three-ways-that-you-can-cut-a-deficit/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [To avoid large and unsustainable budget deficits, the nation will ultimately have to choose among higher taxes, modifications to entitlement programs such as Social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/to-avoid-large-and-unsustainable-budget-deficits-the-nation-will/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [We must create wealth and we must cut our deficits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-valls/we-must-create-wealth-and-we-must-cut-our-deficits/) [Manuel Valls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-valls/) > [Our first benchmark is to cut the deficit more quickly to safeguard Britain’s credit rating. I know that we are taking a political gamble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/our-first-benchmark-is-to-cut-the-deficit-more-quickly-to-safeguard/) [George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/) > [Our practical choice is not between a tax-cut deficit and a budgetary surplus. It is between two kinds of deficits: a chronic deficit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/our-practical-choice-is-not-between-a-tax-cut-deficit-and-a-budgetary/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [When my husband was president, we went from a $300 billion deficit to a $200 billion surplus and we were actually on the path…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/when-my-husband-was-president-we-went-from-a-300-billion-deficit-to-a/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Trying to cut the deficit too far, too fast isn't working. The government must adopt a steadier, more balanced plan to get our deficit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-balls/trying-to-cut-the-deficit-too-far-too-fast-isn-t-working-the/) [Ed Balls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-balls/) > [It seems to me there are good deficits and bad deficits. Now, we have a deficit that comes from the militarization of our society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-seems-to-me-there-are-good-deficits-and-bad-deficits-now-we-have-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What works for Germany can't work for the rest of Europe: No country can run a chronic surplus without others running deficits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/what-works-for-germany-can-t-work-for-the-rest-of-europe-no-country/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) ## More by Mitt Romney > [I look at what's happening around the world and I see Iran four years closer to a bomb. I see the Middle East with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-look-at-what-s-happening-around-the-world-and-i-see-iran-four-years/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I would like to have campaign spending limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-would-like-to-have-campaign-spending-limits/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I believe in my Mormon faith, and I endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers - I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-believe-in-my-mormon-faith-and-i-endeavor-to-live-by-it-my-faith-is/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [America's military is second to none in the world. We're blessed with terrific soldiers, and extraordinary technology and intelligence. But the idea of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/america-s-military-is-second-to-none-in-the-world-we-re-blessed-with/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [And a special thank you to the citizens of Massachusetts: You are paying all the taxes, creating all the jobs, raising all the children.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/and-a-special-thank-you-to-the-citizens-of-massachusetts-you-are/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [When I was elected governor of my state, I had a legislature 87 percent Democrat. It was not lost on me that to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/when-i-was-elected-governor-of-my-state-i-had-a-legislature-87/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I saw the young man over there with eggs Benedict, with hollandaise sauce. And I was going to suggest to you that you serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-saw-the-young-man-over-there-with-eggs-benedict-with-hollandaise/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I've been a hunter pretty much all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-ve-been-a-hunter-pretty-much-all-my-life/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I think Mitt Romney has demonstrated repeatedly he has a penchant for - for secrecy, doesn't seem to have any interest in actually showing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-think-mitt-romney-has-demonstrated-repeatedly-he-has-a-penchant-for/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [If I were to offer advice to any president of the United States, it would be this: do whatever you can do to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/if-i-were-to-offer-advice-to-any-president-of-the-united-states-it/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I was too important to go to Vietnam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-was-too-important-to-go-to-vietnam/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [America has not dictated to other nations. We have freed other nations from dictators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/america-has-not-dictated-to-other-nations-we-have-freed-other-nations/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [The right course is for the Palestinians and the Israelis to sit down at the table together. The Palestinians need to recognize that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/the-right-course-is-for-the-palestinians-and-the-israelis-to-sit-down/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [If I'm President of the United States, when I'm President of the United States, we will stand with Israel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/if-i-m-president-of-the-united-states-when-i-m-president-of-the/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [President Obama instituted the most anti-growth, anti-investment, anti-jobs measures that we have seen in our lifetime. Now he called his agenda ambitious, I call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/president-obama-instituted-the-most-anti-growth-anti-investment-anti/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) [Explore all 781 Mitt Romney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) ## More Deficit quotes > [At times of recession, running a budget deficit is highly desirable. Once the economy begins to recover, you have to balance the budget. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/at-times-of-recession-running-a-budget-deficit-is-highly-desirable/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [There is a nationwide shortage of drugs for Attention Deficit Disorder. The FDA says they're not sure how it happened. I guess somebody wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/there-is-a-nationwide-shortage-of-drugs-for-attention-deficit/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [The more competitive value of the dollar turned around the trade deficit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-feldstein/the-more-competitive-value-of-the-dollar-turned-around-the-trade/) [Martin Feldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-feldstein/) > [Inflation is not caused by the actions of private citizens, but by the government: by an artificial expansion of the money supply required to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/inflation-is-not-caused-by-the-actions-of-private-citizens-but-by-the/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [When you're talking about long-term deficit reduction, $4 trillion worth, entitlement reform needs to be part of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/when-you-re-talking-about-long-term-deficit-reduction-4-trillion/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [I cannot conceive of a politically feasible solution to this problem which will overdo cutting the deficit, where overdoing means harming the economy. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/i-cannot-conceive-of-a-politically-feasible-solution-to-this-problem/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [The deficit crisis is real and must be addressed. But it cannot be solved on the backs of the weak and vulnerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-deficit-crisis-is-real-and-must-be-addressed-but-it-cannot-be/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [You know, dramas are much more expensive to do than say a comedy, so any kind of deficit like that is picked up on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-guilfoyle/you-know-dramas-are-much-more-expensive-to-do-than-say-a-comedy-so/) [Paul Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-guilfoyle/) > [The major cause for American Negroes intellectual and social deficits is hereditary and racially genetic in origin and thus not remedial to a major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shockley/the-major-cause-for-american-negroes-intellectual-and-social-deficits/) [William Shockley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shockley/) > [Back in those days, in the fifties and sixties, countries had balance of payment's deficits or surpluses, those were reflected much more than today…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-solomon/back-in-those-days-in-the-fifties-and-sixties-countries-had-balance/) [Robert C. Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-solomon/) > [I am a deficit hawk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-am-a-deficit-hawk/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [What sets black people apart is not some deficit in personal responsibility. It's the weight on our shoulders. That is what's actually different. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/what-sets-black-people-apart-is-not-some-deficit-in-personal/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [I will bring our energy companies back. They'll be able to compete. They'll make money. They'll pay off our national debt. They'll pay off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-will-bring-our-energy-companies-back-they-ll-be-able-to-compete/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The company must be profitable. Preferably it will have increased its earnings for the past five years and there will have been no deficits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cundill/the-company-must-be-profitable-preferably-it-will-have-increased-its/) [Peter Cundill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cundill/) > [No industry or country can reach its full potential until women reach their full potential. This is especially true of science and technology, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/no-industry-or-country-can-reach-its-full-potential-until-women-reach/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) [Browse all 585 Deficit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deficit/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The president said he'd cut the deficit in half. Unfortunately, he doubled it. Trillion-dollar deficits for the last four years. 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