Inside Trump's luxe $400M interim Air Force One jet with gold walls, conference room and palatial decor

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump is making bold moves to secure a new Air Force One by turning to a former Qatari government jet to bypass mounting frustrations with Boeing’s delayed delivery of the next-generation presidential aircraft.

This change comes after years of setbacks in delivering the two new presidential aircraft that Trump had pushed for during his previous term, the Daily Mail reported.

Donald Trump’s bid for luxe Air Force One jet

The initiative, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, involves defense contractor L3Harris taking over the transformation of the opulent aircraft, which Donald Trump hopes to have air-ready by this fall. 

The aircraft, previously listed for around $400 million, already boasts palatial decor crafted by famed French design house Alberto Pinto. 

The interiors include lavish suites, plush leather lounges, and a conference room with adjustable tan and cream chairs. Gilded walls and gleaming corridors evoke Trump’s signature aesthetic as seen in places like the Trump Tower.

Boeing falls behind as Donald Trump turns to private industry

Donald Trump originally enlisted Boeing to build two new state-of-the-art planes during his presidency in a $3.9 billion deal. However, persistent engineering issues and supplier delays have derailed progress, with current projections pushing delivery into 2035.

The Boeing 747 currently serving as Air Force One has been flying US presidents since the era of George HW Bush, who held office from 1989 to 1993. 

Even a recent White House visit by Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg didn’t manage to mend the strained relationship. Trump is now banking on L3Harris, the sixth-largest US defense contractor, to retrofit the Qatari aircraft with secure communication systems and counter-attack capabilities. 

Experts remain skeptical that such a rapid transformation is feasible. Andrew Hunter, who served as the Air Force’s acquisition chief under former president Joe Biden, noted that a complete retrofit on such a tight timeline would be extremely difficult.

“You could do some paint, you could do some communications upgrades, but I suspect it would be hard to do too much beyond that,” he said. 

The upcoming Air Force One isn’t just getting a lavish interior makeover, it might also be sporting a bold new look on the outside. According to reports, military officials have floated the idea of giving the iconic aircraft a patriotic paint job in red, white, and blue.