Trump: White House Ordered 250 Cadillac Escalades — "We Look Sharp"

President Donald Trump told a Michigan audience that the White House has placed an order for 250 Cadillac Escalades to outfit his presidential motorcade. He announced the purchase while speaking at a General Motors testing facility in Milford, a suburb of Detroit.

"The one and only Escalade," Trump said early in a roughly hour-long address. "You know we ordered, I think, 250 Escalades, right? We ordered 250 Escalades…. We look sharp in those Escalades."

Pricing and Model Details

The 2026 Escalade's manufacturer's suggested retail price starts in the low $90,000s, though option packages and upgrades can push the price well past six figures. Cadillac's high-performance V-Series is priced at roughly $170,000.

Cultural Impact and Presidential Fleet

Introduced in 1998, the Escalade rose to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s as hip-hop stars and pop culture embraced the model, reshaping Cadillac's image away from one associated primarily with older buyers. The vehicle has appeared in media such as a Jay-Z music video and a freeway chase sequence in the film The Matrix Reloaded.

Cadillac has long been a preferred brand for presidential administrations. The automaker also builds the custom, heavily armored presidential limousine often dubbed "The Beast," which serves as the head of state's secure transport.

Remarks on Auto Workers and American Vehicles

During his speech, Trump praised several General Motors nameplates as icons of American manufacturing, naming the Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra and "the world-famous Hummer." He also thanked factory employees directly:

"Thank you to the auto workers, the technicians, the mechanics, the welders, the engineers at General Motors. There's no finer group of people. It was workers like you who built this country, and now it's the men and women like you who are making it bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever before."

GM Financial Context

General Motors, headquartered in Detroit, recently reported second-quarter results that beat expectations even as net income fell about 31 percent year over year. GM attributed stronger-than-expected performance in part to sustained U.S. demand for its pickups and SUVs.

Note: Trump made the Escalade announcement at a GM facility in Milford while spotlighting American manufacturing and the company's role in the U.S. auto industry.