WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Trump added that while he wants the airplane’s producer Boeing to make money off the deal, he thinks "Boeing is doing a little bit of a number" and does not need to make "that much money."
"The plane is totally out of control, it’s going to be over $4 billion," Trump told reporters in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York City. "It’s for Air Force One program and I think it’s ridiculous."
According to media reports, the Air Force has budgeted $1.65 billion for the new Air Force One plane between 2015 and 2019. Two planes will be needed to replace the two current Boeing 747-200's used by the US president. Those aircraft reach their 30-year life expectancy in 2017.
The new planes likely will not be ready until 2024.
Media reports also noted the unique communications, safety, self-protection features and more required so the president can operate the aircraft as a mobile White House during any situation, which makes the airplane much more expensive.
