Staff Reports
In an amusing twist in the saga of Air Force One’s makeover, President Trump has decided to enlist the help of tech tycoon and SpaceX chief, Elon Musk, to shake some sense into Boeing. This comes in the wake of mounting frustrations over Boeing’s failure to deliver two new and gleaming Air Force One replacements, originally contracted back in 2018 for a staggering $3.9 billion. Instead of soaring through the skies in time for 2024, it appears these jets are as far off as Congress agreeing on a budget.
Trump is reportedly not taking Boeing’s delay lightly. He’s not just whimpering in a corner; he’s publicly rebuffed the aerospace giant and hinted at potentially looking into substitute planes that could serve as temporary Air Force Ones. One can only imagine what type of “temporary” luxury aircraft would be used — perhaps a decorated version of a Gulfstream or even a vintage Learjet adorned with red, white, and blue pomp? The possibilities are endless for the Commander-in-Chief’s transport!
President Trump, furious about delays two new Air Force One jets, empowered Elon Musk to explore drastic options to prod Boeing to move faster, including relaxing security clearance standards for some who work on the presidential planes. https://t.co/wu10VNSz1C via @NYTimes
— Leon Dash (@DashDeCosta) February 23, 2025
As reported, Trump has harnessed Musk’s knack for technology and efficiency to take a closer look at this lackluster timeline. Musk’s mission? Ensure Boeing hurries up with the modified 747s. It seems Musk has already jumped on board, tinkering with ideas that involve streamlining worker security clearances to get these birds airborne faster. Only in Washington can one find a tech mogul stepping in to rescue a multi-billion-dollar government project that has been floundering.
For Trump’s part, there’s an urgency to the situation. He’s been vocal about his dissatisfaction with Boeing, underscoring that the company is in technical default on its contract and has made him question whether anyone is actually working on this long-awaited project. This frustration has led him to emphasize that there are “no excuses” and assert that other alternatives are on the table, such as purchasing already completed planes. Surely the commander of the greatest military in the world should not have to wait years for a pair of jets.
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg has chimed in, giving nods to Musk’s assistance. He admitted that Musk is proving to be a valuable ally in cutting through the red tape, something the federal bureaucracy is notoriously good at generating. If anyone can expedite the process of delivering these jets, it’s probably not the same team that spent years merely defining what the jets would even look like. Maybe Trump should send Musk to fix the supply chain for the country next; he might do it faster than Boeing can manage a couple of deluxe “flying excuses.”
In a day where inflation and delays seem to stretch the patience of most citizens, this entire ordeal gives a staggering view into the bizarre intersection of politics, big corporations, and high-tech innovation. As the clock ticks down towards the new Air Force One’s anticipated arrival, perhaps some creative thinking and a little elbow grease (with Musk’s rocket fuel behind it) is exactly what the project needs to take off, literally and figuratively.
