TRUMP, BOEING CEO TALK AFTER AIR FORCE ONE DEAL THREAT
WASHINGTON — A few hours after President- elect Donald Trump threatened on Tuesday to cancel the pending deal with Chicago- based Boeing for replacements of Air Force One, Trump said Wednesday he talked to Boeing’s CEO.
“You know, that’s what I’m here for. I’m going to negotiate prices. Planes are too expensive and we’re going to get the prices down and if we don’t get the prices down, we’re not going to order them. We’re going to stay with what we have,” Trump said in an interview on NBC’s “Today” show.
Boeing staff arranged for the call. Boeing is the only U. S. aviation company with the ability to build what is a flying White House.
The company said in a statement, “Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Dennis Muilenburg spoke by phone yesterday with President- elect Trump. Muilenburg congratulated Mr. Trump on his election win and committed to working with the new administration to control costs as they establish requirements for the new Air Force One to keep the program as affordable as possible and deliver the best value to American taxpayers.”
With the project in early stages, Boeing has a $ 170 million contract to “help determine the capabilities of these complex military aircraft that serve the unique requirements of the president,” the company said.
The Government Accounting Office said replacing the current twoplane fleet could cost about $ 3.5 billion.