Air Force One glitch revives replacement push as White House says it 'proves Trump was right again'
Air Force One experiencing minor mechanical issues as President Donald Trump began his trip to Davos, Switzerland, Tuesday evening proved his point that the U.S. needs to update its presidential...
By Fox News · Fox News
Air Force One experiencing minor mechanical issues as President Donald Trump began his trip to Davos, Switzerland, Tuesday evening proved his point that the U.S. needs to update its presidential plane, the White House told Fox News Digital. "The minor mechanical issue proves that President Trump was right again," White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly told Fox News Digital. "The new Air Force One will be a welcome donation to the United States Air Force, not just for the President, but for the entire Air Force One crew," she added. The Department of Defense in May 2025 formally accepted a 747 jetliner from Qatar to serve as a new Air Force One, which could serve as a replacement for the two current Air Force Ones. TRUMP UNLOADS ON BIDEN POLICIES FROM DAVOS, WARNS EUROPE TO DROP THE OLD PLAYBOOK The new jet will be set to take to the skies in the summer of 2026, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday, following the Pentagon retrofitting the jet and combing through it for security and spying devices. Both Democrats and Republicans criticized Trump after he announced the Department of Defense planned to accept the jumbo jet from the government of Qatar in May 2025, arguing the gift is riddled with both espionage concerns and constitutional questions. "The Air Force remains committed to expediting delivery of the VC-25 bridge aircraft in support of the Presidential airlift mission, with an anticipated delivery no later than summer 2026," an Air Force spokesperson told the outlet. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House Thursday for additional comment on the matter. TRUMP’S ‘SMALL ASK’ FOR GREENLAND WOULD BE THE REAL ESTATE DEAL OF A LIFETIME Air Force One experienced a "minor electrical issue" after takeoff at 10:20 p.m. and returned "out of an abundance of caution," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday evening. Reporters on the flight said the lights in the cabin went out before the plane returned to Maryland around 45 minutes into the tri…