Trump tours old Boeing amid Air Force One delivery delays

In January 2025, Elon Musk visited Boeing to assess the refurbishment of the Air Force One jets. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said in an interview with CNBC: "The president wants the airplane sooner, and so we're working with Elon and the team to figure what can we do to pull up the schedule of that aircraft."

Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is tasked with reducing government spending. Despite each jet exceeding its budget by over $1 billion, Boeing will cover these extra costs under fixed-price contracts totaling $3.9 billion.

With Trump recently elected as the 47th president after defeating Kamala Harris, there is renewed focus on his official air transportation. He has expressed interest in revising the paint scheme for the upcoming pair of 747-8s back to a design proposed during his first term.

Currently, Air Force One consists of two modified 747-200Bs designated VC-25As. The planned new Boeing 747-8s are set to feature a blue and white scheme reminiscent of Kennedy's era.