Nikki Haley served on Boeing's board of directors from 2018 to 2023, receiving over $300,000 annually in compensation. She joined the board after her tenure as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, leveraging her governmental experience for corporate governance and strategic input. Her board service raised questions about potential conflicts of interest and cronyism, given Boeing's reliance on federal contracts during her diplomatic role. This scrutiny was amplified by her earlier actions as governor of South Carolina, where she championed approximately $1.7 billion in state tax incentives and workforce training for Boeing's 787 Dreamliner expansion.

As South Carolina governor, Nikki Haley championed $1.7 billion in tax breaks and incentives, along with workforce training, to attract Boeing's operations and support its 787 Dreamliner expansion in the state, resulting in thousands of jobs. She later joined Boeing's board in 2021, raising ethics concerns about potential conflicts of interest and cronyism.

Boeing invested $20 million in Perle's Trireme Partners in approximately April 2002. Subsequently, Perle wrote a Wall Street Journal op-ed advocating for a Pentagon scheme to lease Boeing KC-767 aerial refueling tankers — without disclosing his financial relationship with Boeing. The Washington Post reported on December 5, 2003 that the op-ed 'didn't disclose Boeing tie.' Perle acknowledged he had submitted the column to Boeing for 'fact checking' before publication. The Boeing tanker deal itself was separately embroiled in corruption — senior Air Force official Darleen Druyun pleaded guilty to a felony.