Trump Shockingly Gives Air Force Contract to FAILING Boeing Over Devastated Lockheed…

Either we’re witnessing the greatest corporate turnaround in history, or Trump just made a horrific decision he’ll be heavily regretting later. ICYMI, Boeing just pulled off the defense industry equivalent of a last-second Hail Mary, beating out Lockheed Martin for the Pentagon’s next-gen fighter jet contract. The deal, which could be worth hundreds of billions over its lifetime, is a much-needed win for Boeing’s struggling defense unit—and a major middle finger to Lockheed, which has practically owned the U.S. fighter jet market for decades. 

(Source: Giphy) 

After the announcement, Boeing’s stock popped 3%, while Lockheed’s tanked nearly 6%. That’s what happens when you lose a $50+ billion arms race. So what’s the deal here? Well, the Pentagon’s Next Generation Air Dominance program aims to replace the F-22 Raptor—a Lockheed product—with a Boeing-built F-47 fighter jet. The F-47 will fly alongside semi-autonomous drones, because apparently, the military is finally realizing that sending humans into dogfights is so 20th century.

The official price tag of this win? Classified. But defense analysts estimate the research, development, and acquisition costs will easily top $50 billion. And that’s just the starting point—once foreign allies start placing orders (which Trump has already teased), this could turn into a mega-contract that lasts decades.

(Source: Wall Street Journal) 

Of course, for Boeing, this is a lifeline. Their defense unit has been bleeding money for years, thanks to a string of disastrous contracts, cost overruns, and delays. The KC-46 tanker? A financial black hole. The Air Force One replacement? A $2 billion loss. The MQ-25 drone? Behind schedule. Simply put, Boeing has been losing defense contracts left and right, so this win is a big f*ing deal. 

Now here’s the other question: Why (or how TF) did Lockheed lose? Obviously, Lockheed has been the Pentagon’s golden child for years, but lately, the relationship has been getting… complicated. First, there’s the F-35 debacle. The Pentagon has been pissed about endless delays and cost overruns on the F-35 program, which was supposed to be the future of U.S. air power but has instead turned into a $1.7 trillion headache. Then there’s Trump, who has made it clear that he wants to shake up the defense industry—and that means breaking Lockheed’s monopoly. The administration has been pushing for new entrants, more competition, and a shift toward drones and AI-powered warfare. 

(Source: Reuters) 

Oh, and one more thing: Trump personally met with Lockheed’s CEO, Jim Taiclet, to discuss the F-35 mess just weeks before Boeing was awarded this contract. So really, you don’t need to be a conspiracy theorist to see the writing on the wall. But, what’s even more interesting is that even after all the Lockheed struggles, Trump still went with Boeing, especially since these two haven’t exactly been best friends lately. 

For instance, Trump trashed Boeing over Air Force One delays and costs, calling it a “disaster”---not to mention that the company has been under fire for its commercial jet disasters, including the 737 MAX fiasco and a mid-air panel blowout on an Alaska Airlines flight. Yet, this contract changes everything.. Because by awarding Boeing the biggest fighter jet contract in years, the administration is essentially giving the company a second chance. It’s a vote of confidence in Boeing’s ability to turn things around—not just in defense, but across the board. And who doesn’t love a good redemption arc more than Trump (especially when he’s the one writing it). 

(Source: Giphy) 

Bottom line: Boeing is back (for now). This contract is a huge win for Boeing, a massive L for Lockheed, and a clear signal that the Pentagon is moving toward more automation, AI, and drone warfare. For investors, Boeing’s defense business just went from liability to asset overnight. If the company executes well, this could be the beginning of a major turnaround. But if they botch another contract, expect the government to come down on them harder than a 737 MAX trying to stay in the air.

As for Lockheed? They’ll be fine—they still have the F-35, missile systems, and a Pentagon that literally can’t function without them. But this loss stings, and you better believe they’re already working on a way to claw their way back to the top. Either way, we just witnessed Boeing get it’s swagger back—now let’s all clutch our pearls to see if they end up f*ing this up or not. As always, stay safe and stay frosty, friends! Until next time… 

P.S. Just when you thought our beloved congressmen couldn’t get any greasier, one Republican lawmaker decided to YOLO $175k into a stock—right before a major FDIC announcement hit. Lucky timing? Insider edge? You be the judge. We broke it all down inside last week's Stocks.News premium article—click here to check it out ASAP! 

Stocks.News holds does not hold positions in companies mentioned in the article.