So Many Things Wrong With Trump's Boeing Tweet

Trump's latest tweet about Boeing raises another opportunity for massive corruption by the Trump family and the members of and hangers on to the Trump administration. There is a reason that Presidents usually do not call out specific companies except in generic, and usual, positive terms, much less threaten a specific company over an individual contract. The immediate aftermath of Trump's tweet caused Boeing shareholders to lose over half a billion dollars. Of course, the opportunity for corruption for those who have some idea what Trump is thinking with regards to these individual companies is enormous.

Needless to say, Trump's tweet is also factually incorrect as the estimated cost for the two new planes is only about $1.5 billion and there currently is only one existing contract for $170 million to investigate the requirements for the planes. But ignoring facts is just another way for Trump to display his power and destroy the norms of governance.

On MSNBC, Republican strategist Noelle Nikpour offered the theory that Trump views his election as essentially a takeover of another company, in this case the businesses of the United States. He is looking at these businesses and deciding what parts are unessential and need to be cut and what parts he will keep. Of course, this is not how American democracy is supposed to work. Another theory was floated by Josh Marshall who points out the Boeing currently relies heavily on exports to China. Perhaps Boeing made their discomfort about Trump's actions with Taiwan known to the incoming administration and this is the response they got. Of course, this also just provides the latest shiny object that the press can move on to and Trump's diplomatic incident over Taiwan will fade into the past.