One reason Donald Trump is pushing back on the cost of Air Force One is that his own plane cost less than a tenth of Air Force One.
The president-elect's private 757-200 is known as Trump Force One, and Trump has long boasted that it's better than the president's ride.
Trump's plane has gold seat buckles, gold faucets, gold inlaid in the wood and gold lighting hardware. It's also got a state-of-the-art multimedia system for watching movies and live TV anywhere in the world, and it's got leather seats custom-dyed with Trump's favorite color, and the Trump family crest is embroidered on all the sofas, seats and cushions.
Trump bought the plane from Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in 2010. Trump said he paid $100 million, but sources close to the deal said it cost less than $50 million. He then spent less than $10 million on the renovation and refit, so the total cost of the plane was under $60 million.
Compare that to Air Force One, where two planes are expected to cost $1.65 billion, or around $830 million per plane — more than 13 times Trump's.
Aviation experts say Trump's plane is more luxurious, but Air Force One is a technology marvel, with an anti-missile system, scramblers, massive communications systems and back-up systems. So the two aircraft are not really comparable. But based on the Trump-gold standard for private jets, it's no wonder he's demanding a cost cut from Boeing.
The aircraft manufacturer issued a statement Tuesday that said it is under contract for $170 million to help determine the capabilities of these "complex military aircraft that serves the unique requirements of the President of the United States."
"We look forward to working with the U.S. Air Force on subsequent phases of the program, allowing us to deliver the best planes for the President at the best value for the American taxpayer."