Earlier this morning Trump announced that he was heading to Charleston, South Carolina "in order to spend time with Boeing and talk jobs!" and moments from now, at 1pm EST, he will take the stage to make some public comments following his visit.
Going to Charleston, South Carolina, in order to spend time with Boeing and talk jobs!
Look forward to it.— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
The visit by Trump comes just days after employees of the South Carolina Boeing facility, which manufactures the 787 Dreamliner, made news on the jobs front with 74% of employees voting against unionization efforts by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. Per Reuters:
Boeing handily defeated a union drive by workers at the company's aircraft factory in South Carolina on Wednesday, as almost three-quarters of workers at the plant who voted rejected union representation.
The secret ballot vote, conducted by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) at polling locations throughout the North Charleston plant, was the first for Boeing and a high-profile test for organized labor in the nation's most strongly anti-union state.
The NLRB said 74 percent of the 2,828 workers who cast ballots voted against joining the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM).
“We will continue to move forward as one team,” Joan Robinson-Berry, vice president in charge of Boeing South Carolina, said in the post.
In a statement, IAM lead organizer Mike Evans said: “We’re disappointed the workers at Boeing South Carolina will not yet have the opportunity to see all the benefits that come with union representation.”
Of course, the Trump administration got off to a rocky start with Boeing after he publicly threatened to cancel a $4 billion contract associated with the construction of a "brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents" due to "out of control" costs.
Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
Trump on Boeing/Air Force One tweet: "The plane is totally out of control...we want Boeing to make a lot of money, but not that much money" pic.twitter.com/OnEuw8hfUM
— CNBC Now (@CNBCnow)
In response to the Trump tweet, Boeing was forced to quickly put out a statement vowing to "work with the U.S. Air Force" on the "out of control" costs to calm its nervous shareholders and save its stock which went into a free fall.
“We look forward to working with the US Air Force on subsequent phases of the program allowing us to deliver the best plane for the president at the best value for the American taxpayer."
“We are currently under contract for $170 million to help determine the capabilities of this complex military aircraft that serves the unique requirements of the President of the United States.”
With that, tune in below to see what new madness today's comments will bring.
