Key facts
- The White House has ordered 250 Cadillac Escalades.
- The base price for a Cadillac Escalade is over $90,000.
- President Trump stated the vehicles are for "cavalcades" and that "Our guys are very spoiled."
- The announcement was made during an address at a General Motors facility in Michigan.
- The purchase occurs while Americans face an affordability crisis with rising gas prices and mortgage rates.
President Donald Trump announced that the White House has ordered 250 Cadillac Escalades, with a suggested retail price of over $90,000 each, for use in official cavalcades. Trump stated that "Our guys are very spoiled. They like the Escalade. So do I." The announcement comes as Americans grapple with an affordability crisis, marked by rising gas prices, high mortgage rates, and economic strain, leading to criticism of the purchase as ostentatious.
During an address at a General Motors facility in Michigan, Trump defended the purchase, emphasizing how the vehicles make the presidential entourage "look sharp." The decision has been contrasted with the economic hardships faced by the average household, with one economist estimating the Iran war is costing Americans over $1,200. Critics have pointed to the symbolism of the purchase, with some comparing it to a leader ignoring widespread suffering.
The speech itself, intended to focus on US auto manufacturing, veered into various other topics, including transgender rights and political warnings about Democratic governance. Trump also reiterated a long-standing, unsubstantiated claim of receiving a "Man of the Year" award in Michigan 25 years ago, a claim that has been fact-checked and disputed by CNN's Daniel Dale, who noted that Michigan does not issue such an award and Trump has never lived in the state.