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“Whatever it costs” meme: meaning, origin and rare card

“Whatever it costs” is a famous French political phrase spoken by Emmanuel Macron in March 2020.

MyMemeCards editorial teamPublished 6 min read
Whatever it costs meme
The “Whatever it costs” meme, 2020

In MyMemeCards, the meme card game, “Whatever it costs” is a rare card of the French Politics pack, number 71 of the collection, and the 24th best-known meme of its 127 cards. Here is what the meme means, where it comes from, and how to get its card.

What does the “Whatever it costs” meme mean?

The meme highlights the gap between grand political promises of unlimited financial help and the staggering debt that follows. Online users deploy the line with heavy sarcasm to mock massive state interventions, ill-conceived funding decisions, or personal splurges that completely ignore common economic sense. It captures the dark humor of paying an astronomical bill for a decision marketed as essential.

Where does the “Whatever it costs” meme come from?

The catchphrase originates from a live televised presidential address delivered by French President Emmanuel Macron from the Élysée on March 12, 2020. Addressing the nation at the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis, Macron pledged that the state would deploy all necessary financial resources to protect citizens and support businesses. The phrasing mirrored the iconic 2012 quote “whatever it takes” by European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi during the euro currency crisis. Over time, as economic estimates pointed to hundreds of billions of euros in public spending, commentators and internet users transformed the statement into an ironic symbol of endless state expenses.

  1. July 2012Mario Draghi declares the ECB will do “whatever it takes” to preserve the euro.
  2. March 12, 2020Emmanuel Macron delivers his televised address vowing to save lives and businesses “whatever it costs”.

How to use the “Whatever it costs” meme

  • Reacting to an announcement of huge public spending with sarcastic fatalism.
  • Rationalizing an overly expensive personal purchase during a shopping spree.
  • Mocking an ambitious project that ran drastically over budget with zero financial oversight.

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The “Whatever it costs” card in MyMemeCards

"Whatever it costs" card
NumberNo. 071
RarityRare
CollectionFrench Politics pack
Fame87/100 · #24 of 127
Recycle value10 MemeCoins (30 in Shiny)
Rarities of the French Politics pack: 127 cards
  • Common4535%
  • Rare4737%
  • Epic2016%
  • Legendary107.9%
  • Mythic53.9%

How to get the “Whatever it costs” card

Every pack holds 5 meme cards, the first 3 of them Common; Whatever it costs comes out of the French Politics pack as a rare card. The pack odds say what each rarity weighs.

Your first pack is free and needs no account. After that a new free pack lands every 10 minutes, up to 3 waiting for you. You can also buy the card with MemeCoins on the market, bid for it at auction, or trade it — and a double recycles into 10 MemeCoins.

Open your free pack

5 meme cards, one of them at least Rare. One free pack per person.

Free · no account needed

Odds per card, averaged over a pack: Common 72%, Rare 23.9%, Epic 3.2%, Legendary 0.56%, Mythic 0.3%, Full Art 0.8%, Shiny 0.2%. Cards 1 to 3 are always Common, cards 4 and 5 climb the rarities. Rates drop for cards that circulate a lot. Details

Memes like “Whatever it costs”

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Frequently asked questions

Where does the quote “Whatever it costs” come from?

It comes from French President Emmanuel Macron's televised address on March 12, 2020. He promised unlimited financial support to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.

How is it related to Mario Draghi?

Macron's wording was modeled after Draghi's famous declaration in July 2012, where the ECB head promised to do “whatever it takes” to rescue the euro.

Why did it become an online meme?

Netizens repurposed the solemn pledge into an ironic punchline about fiscal recklessness and runaway national debt.

How do I get the Whatever it costs meme card?

Open a pack of MyMemeCards: “Whatever it costs” is a rare card of the French Politics pack. Your first pack is free, with no account, and you can also buy, trade or win the card at auction.

How rare is the Whatever it costs card?

It is a Rare card. Rarity decides which pack slot can deal it, and what it is worth on the market.

Sources: Coronavirus : Macron annonce des mesures «exceptionnelles» pour les entreprises et les salariés · "Quoi qu'il en coûte" : l'argent magique existe-t-il vraiment ? · Covid-19. De "Nous sommes en guerre" à "La sortie de crise se dessine" : 16 mois d'allocutions télévisées pour Macron · checked on October 8, 2026.

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