Trump tweeted this morning that Boeing should cancel the order for the new Air Force One because it costs more than $4 billion:
Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 6, 2016
He later elaborated on the tweet to the press:
“The plane is totally out of control. It’s going to be over $4 billion for Air Force One program and I think it’s ridiculous,” he said. “I think Boeing is doing a little bit of a number. We want Boeing to make a lot of money, but not that much money.”
So he’s suggesting that Boeing is ripping off the American people with the $4 billion in cost. But according to Politico, the cost is much less:
The Air Force said previously that it had earmarked $1.65 billion for two new presidential aircraft, which will be four-engine Boeing 747-8s.
So that comes out to 825 million per plane? That’s a far cry different than $4 billion. But maybe Trump has some new information that we don’t have on the cost? I expect we’ll see more on this as the day continues because Trump’s tweet is all the rage in the media.
According to Business Insider, Boeing’s shares fell after Trump tweeted this:
Boeing shares fall after Trump tweets to cancel Air Force One order https://t.co/eyraJLUqMk pic.twitter.com/WxBjj0NVJX
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) December 6, 2016
At the close of the market on Monday, Boeing stock was at $152.16. The stock slipped in pre-market trading after Trump’s tweet. The stock then continued to dip in early trading, falling 0.9% to $150.90.
Boeing did not immediately have a response to Trump’s tweet which he addressed in Trump Tower in New York on Tuesday.
I should also note that while some were critical of the tweet from Trump, others, who you might not expect, applauded it:
Don’t make me like you. https://t.co/n7aygzL9w1
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) December 6, 2016
Obama pulled the same move in 2009 asking Bob Gates to cancel the VH-71 Presidential helicopter program. #copycat https://t.co/t9GDW878ab
— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) December 6, 2016
And Obama was right. https://t.co/lheg9nkcWo
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) December 6, 2016