What's Up With Memes That Say 'I Have Concepts Of A Plan'? Donald Trump's Presidential Debate Quote Turned Viral Catchphrase Explained

Former President Donald Trump finally faced off against Vice President Kamala Harris in the second presidential debate of the year and the first debate between the two official Republican and Democratic candidates.

The debate, which took place on September 10th and was hosted by ABC News, saw Trump echo some trendy Republican talking points of the past week, including the unfounded rumor that Haitian Immigrants in Ohio were eating pets and that Harris is trying to provide what Trump called, "transgender operations on illegal aliens who are in prison."

Polarising political buzzword soup aside, Trump was also pressed on his healthcare policies, with a moderator asking him what his plan to provide Americans with affordable healthcare is, given his longstanding criticism of Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

Donald Trump's answer was that he has "concepts of a plan" in place. Here's how the internet reacted to the statement and how it became the subject of memes.

Where Did The Catchphrase "I Have Concepts of a Plan" Come From?

ABC News livestreamed the Presidential Debate between the official 2024 Republican and Democratic nominees on September 10th, showing Donald Trump squaring off against Kamala Harris in his second debate of the year.

At one point in the debate, Donald Trump was asked a question about his proposed plan to provide American citizens with affordable healthcare, to which Trump responded with the following quote:

"I have concepts of a plan— I'm not president right now— but if we come up with something— I would only change it if we come up with something that's better and less expensive and there are concepts and options— we have to do that— and you'll be hearing about it in the not-too-distant future."

How Did Internet Users React To The Phrase "Concepts Of A Plan"?

Many internet users found Donald Trump's statement to be vague and unpromising, likening it to the answer a lazy student might give to a teacher after being weeks late in coming up with a project outline.

Jokes about Trump's "Concepts of a Plan" statement began making the rounds on Reddit soon after the debate, appearing on subreddits from /r/dankmemes to /r/PrequelMemes.

The joke soon spread to other social networking sites, including Twitter / X, where someone compared Trump's statement to Elizabeth Holmes, a failed American biotech entrepreneur convicted of fraud amid the Theranos scandal.

Other internet users likened the line to a gag in Woody Allen's Annie Hall in which someone from Los Angeles says, "Right now it's only a notion, but I think I can get money to make it into a concept and later turn it into an idea."

What Are Some More Jokes About Trump's 'Concepts Of A Plan'?

For the full history of Trump's Concepts of a Plan, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.