US President Donald Trump toured a 13-year-old Boeing 747-8 on February 15, 2025, at Palm Beach International Airport. The aircraft was formerly owned by Qatar’s royal family. This visit is part of Trump’s efforts to replace the current Air Force One with newer models sooner than planned.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung commented on the tour, stating: “President Trump is touring a new Boeing plane to checkout the new hardware/technology. This highlights the project’s failure to deliver a new Air Force One on time as promised.”
During Trump’s first term from 2017 to 2021, he negotiated with Boeing for two new Air Force One aircraft. Initially scheduled for delivery in 2024 during President Joe Biden’s term, these planes are now delayed until at least 2029 due to supply chain issues and high costs.
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.
