Boeing responds to Trump’s contentious tweet
Dec 23, 2016, 8:20 AM | Updated: 9:37 am
Donald Trump is pitting Boeing against Lockheed-Martin, calling for a "price-out" of fighter jets. (AP)
(AP)
It didn’t take long for aerospace giant Boeing to respond to a message from President-elect Donald Trump that seems to be an attempt to pit the two companies against each other.
Trump tweeted this Thursday evening.
Based on the tremendous cost and cost overruns of the Lockheed Martin F-35, I have asked Boeing to price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 22, 2016
Boeing responded about an hour later.
Ready to work with @realDonaldTrump's administration to affordably meet U.S. military requirements.
— The Boeing Company (@Boeing) December 22, 2016
Related: Boeing isn’t the only aircraft manufacturer in Trump’s crosshairs
Trump met Wednesday with the CEOs of Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Following the meetings, both CEOs said they had discussed lowering costs.
Since winning the election, Trump has complained about the cost of Boeing’s work on two new Air Force One planes and Lockheed’s contract for F-35s.
Trump went as far as saying he wants the government to cancel a multi-billion dollar order with Boeing for new Air Force One planes — no order actually exists. Boeing won the contract to build the new Air Force One in January 2015.
Aerospace industry expert Richard Aboulafia called Trump’s criticism “complete madness.”
Though KIRO Radio’s Dave Ross suggested that perhaps Trump is taking on the role of negotiator and showing his administration will be filled with hard bargainers, Aboulafia said he might believe that, if Trump was doing so outside of Twitter. But perhaps Dave is on to something because he clearly has the attention of the two companies.
