Donald Trump says new multibillion dollar Air Force One plane cost is 'ridiculous', should be cancelled
Updated
The Government should cancel its multibillion-dollar order for new Air Force One presidential planes, US President-elect Donald Trump has declared, serving notice he is ready to jump in and start making decisions six weeks before his inauguration.
Key points:
- Trump says costs are over $US4 billion
- Boeing says they are currently only under contract for $US170 million
- Trump says he wants Boeing to make money 'but not that much'
- Trump currently uses his own Boeing 757
Costs for the two Boeing 747s are "totally out of control", Mr Trump told reporters in the lobby of his New York skyscraper.
The Government has contracted with Boeing to build the planes, which would go into service around 2024.
That means Mr Trump would not fly on the aircraft — which carry US presidents around the globe — unless he pursued and won a second term.
But the Air Force has pressed for a faster schedule, saying the current version is becoming too expensive to repair and keep in good flying shape.
The contract for the planes was to be about $US3 billion ($4 billion), but costs have been reported to be rising.
Mr Trump tweeted early Tuesday: "Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $US4 billion. Cancel order!"
Later, he told reporters that the costs were "ridiculous".
"I think Boeing is doing a little bit of a number," he said.
"We want Boeing to make a lot of money, but not that much money."
The price of Boeing stock dipped after his comments but not drastically.
Mr Trump had tweeted in 2013 that he owned Boeing stock, but a spokesman said on Tuesday he sold all of his stocks in June.
Boeing, White House question Trump's figures
Later on Tuesday, Boeing said in a statement: "We are currently under contract for $US170 million to help determine the capabilities of these complex military aircraft that serve the unique requirements of the president of the United States.
"We look forward to working with the US Air Force on subsequent phases of the program allowing us to deliver the best planes for the president at the best value for the American taxpayer."
The White House then also said it did not know where Mr Trump got his figure of $US4 billion.
"Some of the statistics that have been cited, shall we say, don't appear to reflect the nature of the financial arrangement between Boeing and the Department of Defence," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters.
Mr Trump now uses his own plane, a Boeing 757, which he has outfitted with white leather and gold, a large flat-screen television and a bedroom.
But as president it is expected that he would travel aboard the Air Force jet, which is equipped with special safety, defensive and communications equipment.
Air Force One also has seating for reporters — Mr Trump generally does not allow the press on his own plane.
AP
Topics: government-and-politics, us-elections, united-states
First posted
