Skip to main content

President Trump loves Cadillacs. Always has. His dad used to buy a new one every two years. So when President Trump met with GM CEO Mary Barra—and the Secret Service rolled up on a bulletproof Escalade—eyebrows raised. Is President Trump replacing his fleet of Chevy Suburbans? Or is the next-gen presidential limo upgrading from a sedan to a stretched Escalade? Here’s the twist: Whatever Presidential Cadillac limo Trump’s planning, he probably will never get to ride in it.

President Trump’s new Cadillac… for the next guy?

This week, Secret Service Director Sean Curran met with GM execs to discuss “new advancements that could benefit the next generation of armored SUVs.” The meeting took place at GM’s tech center in Warren, Michigan. The Secret Service posted a photo of a Cadillac Escalade sporting presidential flags, right next to a giant presidential seal. Very subtle.

This came right after President Trump’s own sit-down with Barra. It got people talking. After all, Donald Trump once said, “My father liked Cadillacs, so that’s good enough for me.” The President already rides in a convoy of armored Chevy Suburbans. For special occasions, such as parades, he takes one of his oversized, bulletproof, Presidential limousines. President Trump nicknamed that ride “The Beast.”

The Beast always comes back bigger

https://twitter.com/SecretService/status/1903046486520447405

GM’s been building Cadillac limos for presidents since the Reagan era. Obama ordered the current Beast—a heavy-duty diesel truck in sedan drag—and it arrived during President Trump’s first term. It weighs 22,000 pounds, sports eight-inch armor-plated doors, and carries extra bags of the president’s blood type on board. And yes, President Trump did once show it off to Kim Jong Un.

In 2024, the Biden administration awarded GM a $14.8 million contract to develop a next-gen version. It could be worth up to $40.8 million through 2029. The Secret Service said, “Our engineering… teams work for years to develop the state-of-the-art framework.” They added: “We are too far out to speak to any specific costs or dates.”

So while President Trump Cadillac headlines might hint at a fast-track project, this isn’t that. Presidential limousines take years to develop. There’s a slight chance President Trump will swap his Chevrolet Suburbans for Escalades. But the new limo? Odds are, it’ll debut for the next guy.

The Secret Service isn’t just window shopping. This $40 million deal is part of a long, rolling upgrade cycle. The new Beast will be bigger, tougher, and more bulletproof—because that’s the job. Trump may have kickstarted this chapter, but presidents from both parties sign off on these monsters.

Best in News
Avatar photo
Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari is a MotorBiscuit Staff Writer who brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Henry covers Ford models daily, including the F-150. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. He’s an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts. Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont.