It appears president-elect Trump is already president
Dec 9, 2016, 10:49 PM | Updated: 10:52 pm
The president-elect no longer has to wait until Inauguration Day in January to gain access to the press corps and have a bully pulpit.
Scratch that. The president-elect doesn’t even need to wait until electors cast their formal votes on Dec. 19.
Aerospace expert: Boeing criticism is ‘complete madness’
Need proof? Just take a look at the media storm Donald Trump created Tuesday morning when he told the government to cancel its order with Boeing for new 747 Air Force One planes — an order that hasn’t even been placed yet.
Washington Post political reporter David Fahrenthold agrees. The Boeing comment is reminiscent of the Carrier deal; Trump kept about 1,000 manufacturing jobs in Indiana, rather than being moved to Mexico. It is something “small” and “tangible,” Fahrenthold says, to “show that he is renegotiating the details of the presidency.”
However, something like the Carrier deal, which Politico reports is popular with many voters, is small in the grand scheme of things.
“It’s all so small compared to the actual job of the president,” Fahrenthold said. When he’s actually president, he will have to worry about relationships with other countries, like Iran, North Korea, Russia, and China. Trump won’t have time to go from factory to factory trying to save jobs.
“He’s trying to govern based on what he sees on Twitter and reacts,” Fahrenthold continued. “Going to be hard to do when he has other responsibilities.”
Of course, it’s important to note that what Trump said Tuesday wasn’t completely accurate. There is no contract right now for Boeing to build two new Air Force One planes yet.
“We are currently under contract for $170 million to help determine the capabilities of these complex military aircraft that serve the unique requirements of the President of the United States,” Boeing said in a statement. “We look forward to working with the U.S. 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.”
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