U.S. President Donald Trump’s convoy is parked next to a 12-year-old Boeing 747-8 that toured on February 15, 2025 in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Kevin Lamarque | Reuters
President Donald Trump Tour Boeing The White House said Saturday’s plane highlighted the delays in delivering one of the New Air Force aircraft.
The president negotiated with Boeing during his first administration between 2017 and 2021 with a new pair of 747-8 aircraft during his first administration – but the aircraft is now behind plans.
The two aircraft are expected to be delivered in December 2024, but Boeing has pushed until at least 2027 or 2028 until Trump’s second term ends.
“President Trump is visiting a new Boeing aircraft to see new hardware/technology,” said White House Communications Director Steven Cheung. “This highlights the project’s failure to follow what is promised Deliver the new Air Force on time.”
According to two aviation websites, the plane the president visited at Palm Beach International Airport is a 12-year-old aircraft owned by the Qatar royal family and is now operated by a company in the Isle of Man.
It is unclear whether Trump’s Saturday flight trip is coordinated with Boeing.
Boeing did not immediately comment on Trump’s visit and submitted the issue of delays in the Air Force One program to the Air Force.
Last month, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said the company is meeting with Trump’s allies Elon Musk – Musk makes the planes updated faster despite competing with Boeing’s space division.
“The president hopes these aircraft will work with Elon soon and see what we can do to improve the timeline of these plans,” Ortberg told CNBC on January 28.
Boeing leaders said supply chain issues, high costs and the complexity of aircraft designed to be airborne the White House slowed production.
In 2016, Trump called on the new Air Force’s high-priced label for a plane and asked the then-CEO to agree to a contract of no more than $4 billion for the two aircraft.
Since then, Boeing’s leadership has said that aircraft equipped with military avionics, advanced communications and self-defense systems to withstand the worst-case security scenarios are too low.
Trump also proposes changing the appearance of the new Air Force to blend the crimson red, but former president Joe Biden These plans were adjusted to resemble the current light blue model.
But on January 20, the miniature Air Force One model on Trump’s Inauguration Day cake features a red line design of the president’s preferred choice.
