The Air Force One fleet includes two modified Boeing 747s. These planes are over 30 years old. Boeing is making new replacements, but there have been long delays. The company has lost billions while trying to finish the contract.
President Donald Trump recently visited a Boeing aircraft. He looked at new technology and pointed out Boeing’s delays. The White House confirmed this visit.
Trump Reviews Boeing Aircraft and Delays
Trump toured a 13-year-old Boeing plane at Palm Beach International Airport on Saturday. White House communications director Steven Cheung explained the reason for the visit.
“President Trump is checking a Boeing plane to see its new features,” Cheung said. “This visit shows Boeing has failed to deliver new Air Force One planes on time.”
Currently, Air Force One remains two modified Boeing 747s. Boeing’s contract to create new planes has faced many problems. The delays have cost the company billions.
Delays and Trump’s Cost-Saving Efforts
The first new Air Force One was supposed to arrive in 2024. The U.S. Air Force now expects delivery in 2027. The second plane should come in 2028, the last year of Trump’s term if he is re-elected.
Trump has often criticized the high cost and slow work. In 2024, he spoke online with Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. Trump said he saved more than $1 billion (€950 million) by pushing Boeing to lower costs.
“For four weeks, I kept saying no to the deal,” Trump said. “I reduced the cost by $1.6 billion (€1.5 billion). The only change is we got a better paint job.”
Musk’s Role in Government Spending and Design Changes
Elon Musk is a big donor to Trump’s 2024 campaign. He now leads the new Department of Government Efficiency. His job is to cut federal spending, reduce red tape, and remove unnecessary agencies. Some people criticize Musk for his strict cost-cutting. But Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg confirmed last month that Musk is working with Boeing to speed up Air Force One production.
Trump also wants to change the plane’s classic light blue design. He prefers a darker blue. His earlier attempt to change it was blocked by President Joe Biden. Studies found the new color would need extra testing. This would delay production and raise costs.
Boeing Faces Big Financial Losses
Boeing has struggled with several business projects. The Air Force One contract is a fixed-price deal. That means Boeing must cover any extra costs. So far, Boeing has lost billions on this project.
Other Boeing projects have also had setbacks. The KC-46 military tanker faced problems, leading to losses. The 737 MAX had major safety issues, hurting Boeing’s reputation. These problems, along with supply chain delays, have made Boeing’s financial situation worse.
The new Air Force One planes are years behind schedule. Boeing has lost billions due to delays. Trump has used this issue to push for cost cuts and criticize the company.
As Musk works to cut government spending, he is also involved in this project. The debate over the planes’ design, cost, and delivery continues. The future of Air Force One remains uncertain.
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