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Just days after president-elect Donald Trump called out Boeing for “out of control” costs on its Air Force One bid, the aircraft manufacturer has decided to match its donation to President Obama, giving $1 million to the president-elect’s inauguration, USA Today reports.
We are sure it’s nothing but a coincidence, but just a few short days after president-elect Trump’s tweet-storm over the outrageous bid for replacement Air Force Ones…
Boeing has decided, as NY Post reports, to donate $1 million to Trump’s inauguration…
“The donation is the exact same amount given by Boeing to the last inauguration, President Obama’s second in 2013.
The Trump team plans to raise $75 million for the inaugural, which will be held Jan. 20 in Washington, DC.
The timing is anything but coincidental…
Seemingly unprompted, Trump suggested Tuesday that the company is taking American taxpayers for a ride.
“Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order!” Trump said on Twitter.
Trump also told reporters gathered Tuesday at Trump Tower, “The plane is totally out of control. It’s going to be over $4 billion for Air Force One program and I think it’s ridiculous. I think Boeing is doing a little bit of a number. We want Boeing to make a lot of money, but not that much money.”
But later that day the president-elect spoke with the head of Boeing — and sounded optimistic.
“I spoke to a head of Boeing,” Trump told NBC’s “Today” on Wednesday, “and I think we’re going to work it out. That’s what we’re here for. I will negotiate prices.”
Of course, none of this should come as a surprise, as Boeing (as recently as 2014) was exposed for the mutually beneficial relationship between one of the world’s major corporations and a potential future president. Hillary Clinton functioned as a powerful ally for Boeing’s business interests at home and abroad, while Boeing has invested resources in causes beneficial to Clinton’s public and political image.
In 2010, two months after Boeing won its $3.7 billion Russia deal, the company announced a $900,000 contribution to the William J. Clinton Foundation intended to rebuild schools in earthquake-ravaged Haiti. The foundation, which Hillary Clinton now helps lead with her husband and daughter, has become a popular charity for major corporations.
The Boeing relationship meshed well with efforts by Clinton to expand the State Department’s advocacy of U.S. economic interests abroad, part of a broader philosophy that has emphasized partnering government with businesses to solve problems. A potential side benefit for Clinton has been the chance to strengthen ties to the kind of powerful allies in the business community who could assist a possible presidential bid.
Clinton spokesman Nick Merrill said that her advocacy for Boeing’s jet deal was “the job that every Secretary of State is supposed to do and what the American people expect of them — especially during difficult economic times. She proudly and loudly advocated on behalf of American business and took every opportunity to promote U.S. commercial interests abroad.”
Boeing spokesman Sean McCormack said that the company sees its cooperation with the government to encourage exports and create jobs as a “mutual institutional interest, versus a personal one.”
It appears Boeing has found a new “mutual institutional interest…”