Trump takes on Boeing

The Boeing company has been tweeted down by President-elect Donald Trump.

He took exception to the company’s work on a new generation of planes designed to carry the president and others.

These would be the new Air Force One class of planes. Two of them are planned. They will replace the aging aircraft that have been in service since George H.W. Bush was president.

New ones are needed.

These are not average aircraft. They are equipped with massive amounts of electronics, sophisticated communications, defensive devices and in-flight refueling capabilities. They are very luxurious as well.

The planes are meant to keep the president safe while in the air and to keep him in contact with all aspects of government no matter where he might be.

The current estimated price tag for the two planes is $4 billion.

Trump thinks that is excessive. He even tweeted “cancel order.”

Later, he tweeted that he wants Boeing to make a lot of money but just not that much.

In truth, the planes are not fully designed. Cost estimates are just that—estimates.

It is a little early to be bashing Washington state’s premier manufacturing company and, reportedly, the only company in the nation capable of creating and producing such a unique aircraft.

The planning needs to be finalized. Then, more accurate estimates of costs will be available. That will be the time to trim costs and make changes if necessary.

Government spending can be reduced and better controlled. We all know that. There are areas where that can be done painlessly and harmlessly.

Trump’s tweet may merely be a signal that government spending will be scrutinized and excesses will be eliminated. Yet, picking on a single manufacturer seems almost vindictive.

In fact, it has been suggested that the attack on Boeing has more to do with comments by the firm’s CEO about Trump’s economic plans than the cost of the planes.

It may be. Let’s hope not.

Gordon Forgey

Publisher