Vietjet CEO Visits Trump, Vietnam's Bid to 'Make America Great Again'
Vietjet's chairwoman became the first Vietnamese to visit Trump post-election, announcing USD 64 billion in U.S. investments.
[Vietjet CEO Visits Trump, Vietnam's Bid to 'Make America Great Again']
▍ The First Vietnamese to Visit Trump Post-Election
Vietjet chairwoman Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao recently traveled to the U.S. to meet Donald Trump and Elon Musk. She became the first Vietnamese figure to visit Trump after his election victory — and the first airline CEO to secure a meeting.
Vietjet's global ambitions are unmistakable. The carrier wants to be far more than Asia's budget airline.
During Trump's first term, Vietjet placed an order for 100 Boeing aircraft, larger than its current fleet of 94 Airbus planes. Before those jets were even delivered, Thao announced USD 64 billion in new U.S. investments during this visit.
▍ Making Boeing Great Again
Why was it Vietjet — not Vietnam Airlines — that visited the White House?
The answer ties directly to Trump's "Make America Great Again" agenda. Boeing has been bleeding money and battling safety scandals. Reviving the American planemaker is part of Trump's promise to voters.
Thao's visit appears to be a goodwill gesture ahead of a Vietnamese leader's trip to Washington. There is even speculation that Vietnam Airlines may announce its own Boeing purchase during that visit. Two waves of Vietnamese orders would please Trump and reduce the risk of Vietnam being hit with U.S. tariffs.
▍ Semi-Official Diplomacy
This visit carried a semi-official character. With Trump newly elected, Thao served as a vanguard, representing Vietnamese interests in early contacts with the new administration and the U.S. tech sector.
It also signals that a Vietnamese leader's visit to Washington could come sooner than expected — potentially making Vietnam one of the first countries in Southeast Asia, or even in Asia, to send a head of state to meet the new U.S. president.
