Trump's Discontent with Boeing: The Air Force One Dilemma

President Donald Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with Boeing regarding the delayed construction of two new Air Force One planes, which are based on the Boeing 747-8 model. Speaking from one of the aging 35-year-old aircraft currently in use, Trump emphasized that the timelines for delivery, initially set for 2024, have now been pushed back to 2027 or 2028. This contract, negotiated during his inaugural term, is notably behind schedule, prompting Trump to consider alternative options for the new presidential planes.

Despite his frustrations with Boeing’s performance, Trump firmly ruled out the possibility of purchasing aircraft from their European competitor, Airbus, stating he might explore the option of acquiring a used plane and retrofitting it instead. Recently, he inspected a 13-year-old Boeing 747-800 previously owned by the Qatari royal family, reflecting his proactive approach to finding a suitable replacement.

The situation with Boeing has been complicated by its ongoing financial struggles, which included reporting staggering losses of $11.8 billion across 2024—its worst financial outing since the pandemic-induced downturn of 2020. Last year’s financial distress was accentuated by operational strikes, leading to a quarterly loss of $3.8 billion, along with challenges in both its commercial and defense sectors.

Trump’s previous actions included pressing Boeing to revise what he considered excessive contract costs, which have already resulted in significant financial hits for the company. As the deadline for the new planes approaches, the discourse surrounding their construction highlights both logistical challenges and the complexities involved in outfitting aircraft for the unique needs of presidential operations.