President Donald Trump earned swift mockery on Thursday when his press secretary said he'll make a decision on how to proceed in the Iran-Israel conflict in "two weeks" — a timeline he's frequently used.
"I have a message directly from the president: 'Based on the fact that there is a chance for substantial negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision on whether or not to go within the next two weeks,'" Leavitt said during the briefing.
The idea of having something in "two weeks" was a running joke from the film "The Money Pit," in which contractors and builders assured a couple that things would be finished in "two weeks." A builder, Trump appears to have adopted the timeline.
At the end of April, Trump began telling reporters that he'd decide what he'll do in "two weeks," CNN reported last month. Three days later, he said "two weeks," again, restarting the clock.
After two weeks, he told a reporter, “I’ll let you know in a week. I’ll let you know in a few days.”
A week after that, on May 19, he said "two weeks" again.
“I’d rather tell you in about two weeks from now because I can’t say yes or no,” he said.
As far back as 2017, Bloomberg noted that "everything's coming in two weeks."
On Feb. 9, 2017, Trump boasted that his administration was "going to be announcing something I would say over the next two or three weeks that will be phenomenal in terms of tax and developing our aviation infrastructure." Eleven weeks later, the White House handed out a one-page document about the Trump "tax plan."
Trump's "infrastructure plan" became a meme during his first term. For years, they promised to have a proposal.
“We’ve got the plan largely completed and we’ll be filing over the next two or three weeks -- maybe sooner,” Trump said, on April 29, 2017.
Nothing was ever filed; rather, it was President Joe Biden who developed a landmark infrastructure package.
"Two weeks is where promises go to die in Trumpland," noted lawyer Jas Easterly.
He also recalled a 2020 Politifact report saying, “Trump has promised an Obamacare replacement plan five times so far this year. And the plan is always said to be just a few weeks away.” Americans are still waiting.
The Tennessee Holler agreed, noting "'Two weeks' generally means 'never' in Trump speak."
The Independent's Justin Baragona, legal analyst Allison Gill and actor Diedrich Bader all pointed to the comment with ridicule.
"Marketplace" host Kai Ryssdal questioned, "Two weeks, you say?"
Journalist Lindsay Beyerstein remarked, "Trump’s 'two weeks' is your mom’s 'we’ll see.' It means never."
Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) recalled, "Just a reminder that Trump was going to announce his sanctions on Russia for not negotiating 'in two weeks' about 3.5 weeks ago. Taco."
Taco has been a joke among Trump foes that stands for "Trump always chickens out."