Despite Trump’s Criticism, Boeing Donates $1 Mil
Post# of 51143
President-elect Donald Trump may have leveled an attack on one of Boeing’s most high-profile contracts, but that isn’t stopping the aircraft company from signing off on a $1 million donation for his inauguration.
According to a Boeing official familiar with inaugural planning, the company had already committed and finalized the $1 million on Monday — a day before Trump sent out a tweet which had criticized the cost of the Air Force One program.
Trump’s claimed that costs were “out of control,” and that Boeing needed to cancel the order.
Later, he told reporters he thought the cost was “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.”
Trump’s actions prompted Boeing chief executive Dennis Muilenberg to reach out to the president-elect later on Tuesday to assure him costs would be kept under control. The next day, Trump said in an interview with MSNBC that Muilenberg is a “very good man,” and that he is certain they were “going to work it out.”
When asked about the inaugural donations, Boeing spokesman Gordon Johndroe said in an email to USA Today, “We are pleased to continue our tradition of supporting presidential inaugurations.”
Boeing donated the same amount for President Obama’s second inauguration in 2013.
Trump’s inaugural fundraising committee has not released a budget but aims to raise as much as $75 million.
The New York Times reported that organizers already have collected some $50 million, putting the Trump team on pace to exceed the $53 million Obama raised for his first inauguration in 2009.
http://www.westernjournalism.com/despite-trum...uguration/