# Post x_812061677160202240

- Post ID: `x_812061677160202240`
- Platform: X (Twitter)
- Posted: 2016-12-22T22:26:05.000Z (UTC)
- Deleted: no
- Repost: no
- Canonical URL: https://trump.fm/post/x_812061677160202240
- Analysis page: https://trump.fm/post/x_812061677160202240/analysis
- Audio narration: https://static.trump.fm/audio/x_812061677160202240.mp3 (a synthesized voice reading the post text, not a recording)

## Post text

> Based on the tremendous cost and cost overruns of the Lockheed Martin F-35, I have asked Boeing to price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet!

## Engagement

- Likes: 62,693
- Reposts: 14,954
- Replies: 0
- Views: unknown
- Metrics collected: 2026-01-31T23:43:13.370Z (UTC)

# Analysis

_Machine-generated by trump.fm on 2026-03-11T07:55:49.430Z (UTC): a model's reading of this post, not his words. Its psychological terms describe the language, not a clinical assessment of him._

## Analysis: F-35 Cost Tweet (2016-12-22)

This post is a classic Trump power-display during the transition period. He publicly pits Boeing against Lockheed Martin on the F-35 program, positioning himself as a cost-conscious dealmaker even before taking office. The post followed a same-day meeting with military generals and admirals, suggesting it was a deliberate, calculated move rather than an impulsive reaction.

### Authorship
Posted at 5:26 PM EST (Trump was in Palm Beach/Mar-a-Lago area for holidays). Business hours, grammatically correct, strategically timed after the military meeting. However, the content reflects Trump's personal dealmaker brand so strongly—and the exclamation point is characteristic—that it likely reflects his direct dictation even if polished by staff.

### Psychological Dynamics
This is a supply-seeking and dominance-display post. Trump demonstrates he can move defense stocks with a tweet (Lockheed Martin shares dropped after this). The framing—"I have asked Boeing"—positions him as the executive authority already governing, weeks before inauguration. This is consistent with the transition-period pattern of asserting presidential power prematurely.

### Rhetorical Techniques
The phrase "tremendous cost and cost overruns" front-loads the justification, framing the action as rational fiscal discipline. "Price-out" and "comparable" are business terminology reinforcing the dealmaker identity. The exclamation point adds energy and decisiveness.

### Context
The F-35 program was genuinely over budget. Trump had tweeted about F-35 costs on December 12 as well, causing stock drops. This is a continuation of that campaign—using Twitter as a negotiating lever against defense contractors.

## Fact Verification

| Claim | Verdict | Evidence |
|-------|---------|----------|
| "Tremendous cost and cost overruns of the F-35" | **Mostly True** | The F-35 program was genuinely the most expensive weapons program in history, with significant cost overruns exceeding $160 billion over original estimates by 2016. |
| "Asked Boeing to price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet" | **Half True** | Trump did contact Boeing, but the F-18 Super Hornet is a 4th-generation fighter not truly comparable to the 5th-generation F-35 in stealth or capabilities. Defense experts widely noted these are not equivalent platforms. |

Overall Veracity: 65%

## Authorship Analysis

**Uncertain** (score: 60%)

### Indicators

- Business hours (5:26 PM EST)
- Grammatically correct
- Strategic timing after military meeting
- But characteristic exclamation point and dealmaker framing
- Content reflects personal brand strongly

## Psychological Profile

### State

**Grandiose State**

**Trigger:** Supply Seeking (Meeting with military leadership earlier that day)

Sentiment: -0.10

**Mildly Hypomanic**
- Multiple high-stakes policy tweets in single day spanning defense, nuclear policy, Israel, and political branding

### Clinical

**Malignant Narcissism:**
- Narcissistic: 60%
- Antisocial: 20%
- Paranoid: 10%
- Sadism: 10%

**Defense Mechanisms:**
- rationalization (neurotic)

**Cognitive Complexity:**
- Complexity: 50%

**Parasocial Techniques:**
- Positioning audience as beneficiaries of his deal-making
- Demonstrating executive action on their behalf

## Fact Checks (2)

_The model's verdicts from 2026-03-11._

> Tremendous cost and cost overruns of the F-35

**MOSTLY TRUE**

The F-35 program was genuinely the most expensive weapons program in history, with significant cost overruns exceeding $160 billion over original estimates by 2016.

Sources: GAO reports on F-35 program

> Asked Boeing to price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet

**HALF TRUE**

Trump did contact Boeing, but the F-18 Super Hornet is a 4th-generation fighter not truly comparable to the 5th-generation F-35 in stealth or capabilities. Defense experts widely noted these are not equivalent platforms.

Sources: Defense industry reporting

Overall Veracity: 65%

## Tags

- dealmaker-identity (90%)
- corporate-pressure (80%)
- transition-period (70%)
- defense-policy (60%)

## That day

_From trump.fm's machine-generated digest of the day, not his words._

**Shadow President Flexes Nuclear Muscle on Day of Military Meetings**

Trump spent the day projecting presidential authority weeks before taking office, meeting with military leaders and issuing directives on defense, foreign policy, and nuclear weapons -- all via Twitter. The most striking moment was a casual declaration that the U.S. should "greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability," reversing decades of bipartisan restraint in a single post. He also tried to override Obama's anticipated UN vote on Israel and publicly pitted Boeing against Lockheed Martin on fighter jet pricing. A quiet day by volume, but heavy on norm-breaking substance.

Full digest for 2016-12-22: https://trump.fm/date/2016-12-22/analysis

## Citation

- APA: Trump, D. J. (2016, December 22). Based on the tremendous cost and cost overruns of... [Social media post]. X (Twitter). trump.fm. https://trump.fm/post/x_812061677160202240
- MLA: Trump, Donald J. "Based on the tremendous cost and cost overruns of the..." X (Twitter), 22 Dec. 2016. trump.fm, https://trump.fm/post/x_812061677160202240. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.
- Chicago: Donald J. Trump, "Based on the tremendous cost and cost overruns of the...," X (Twitter), December 22, 2016, archived at trump.fm, https://trump.fm/post/x_812061677160202240.

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