The White House said President Donald Trump has helped reduce the cost of the future Air Force One replacement aircraft by millions of dollars since he took office, Defense News reported Friday.
Valerie Insinna writes the White House’s statement on cost reduction in Boeing’s Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization program contradicts Trump’s original claims in February.
“We’ve got that price down by over $1 billion and I probably haven’t spoken for more than an hour on the project,†Trump said in a February rally.
Analysts told Defense News that the change in cost saving claims could indicate that Trump is moving toward a “more conservative estimate.â€
Defense Secretary James Mattis called for a review of the Air Force One replacement program in January weeks after Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg said that the company initiated efforts to simplify requirements for the future presidential plane.