In a 2021 interview at Mar-a-Lago, former President Donald Trump discussed his desire to upgrade Air Force One, motivated not by national security but by 'plane envy.' He lamented the age of the current aircraft, recalling how he felt overshadowed by new planes from Middle Eastern nations during global summits. Despite a faulty recount of negotiation details with Boeing, the essence of his remarks highlighted a desire to maintain an impressive image for the President's travel plane in a world where other leaders had more modern options.
"Air Force One is now thirty-one years old. People come in from, especially the Middle East countries, with brand-new 747-800s, the brand-new super-duper-new one, and we have planes that are thirty-one years old."
"I said, 'It has to have a three on the front.'"
"I would say, 'Whose plane is that?' 'That's Saudi Arabia's plane.' 'That's U.A.E.'s plane.' And you'd see a brand-new 747, and I'd say, 'Well..."
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