You Probably Know This By Now…

So the "problem” is, Air Force One should have retired years ago:

Boeing, which builds the plane used by presidents and vice presidents, will have the new plane in 2027. The original delivery date was in 2022. However, even Darlene Costello, the Air Force’s acting acquisitions chief, told CNN that the 2027 date may not happen.

The delay seems to be caused by the need for workers with high level security clearance.  Which is interesting, because:

The Qatari Defense Ministry is talking to the White House about transferring the luxury-configured Boeing jet to the Pentagon, which would oversee its retrofitting into a makeshift Air Force One. But a private contractor would have to rip it apart to turn the jet into a flying White House for the president with secure communications and classified upgrades, according to former Air Force officials and lawmakers, an expensive and complicated prospect that could cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars

Oh, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

“This isn’t really a gift,” said Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, which oversees executive airlift. “You’d basically have to tear the plane down to the studs and rebuild it to meet all the survivability, security and communications requirements of Air Force One. It’s a massive undertaking — and an unfunded one at that.”

"Unfunded” is the key word there. Not only is the emoluments clause in the way, but Congress alone can allocate the funds for refurbishing a “free” jet, as well as approve the acceptance of the gift. Now, first, is Congress going to do that? And if they do, will they accept it with the condition that it go to Trump’s library after his term has ended? After it has been retrofitted to be suitable as AF1, and then stripped out again for civilian use?

Sure, that would be a DOGE move, wouldn’t it? Congress would love to get behind this. Authorizing a big expenditure for a “free gift” that will probably look just like the current AF1 when they are finished; if they can finish by 2028, because they’ll need people with security clearances to do this work, both tearing it down and putting it back together.

And the delay with Boeing is because they can’t find enough of those people for the contract they have. So…?

And Qatar is saying they haven’t agreed to anything and have no announcement to make when Trump is in their country.

Not that I mind seeing Trump accused of wanting a “flying palace.” But he’s never going to be understood for what an ignorant boob he is:

“I’m not happy with Boeing,” Trump told reporters in February, saying his administration may pursue other options due to the delays. “We may do something else. We may go and buy a plane, or get a plane or something.”

I mean, there’s more than one reason these planes cost $2.5 billion apiece. Gotta provide the POTUS the security and protection he needs. Even if he is a dolt.