WASHINGTON _ President-elect Donald Trump tweeted Tuesday his intent to cancel a Defense Department contract that would provide new Air Force Once planes for future presidents.
Trump cited the rising cost of the Boeing contract in his tweet, and doubled down on his decision later in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York, according to Politico.
"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," Trump said. "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."
When the Pentagon announced the deal in early 2015, the Air Force set the budget for the new planes at $1.65 billion, but current estimates have varied. The planes were set to set begin service around 2024.
When asked for comment, Boeing seemed caught off guard.
"We are going to have to get back to you after we figure out what's going on," a spokesman for the company told The Associated Press.
Trump currently uses his own plane, also a 747, but will benefit from Air Force One's ramped up safety, protection and communication equipment when he takes office in January.
President Barack Obama suspended a similar contract for new Marine One helicopters in 2009 citing exorbitant costs.
