'Wildly expensive': The inside story of Trump's search for a new Air Force One

According to a report published by The Sydney Morning Herald on 21 May 2025, the inside story of President Donald Trump's search for a new Air Force One reveals a 'wildly expensive' saga tied to Qatar's luxury jet gift. The report details the long-running, costly effort to replace the aging presidential fleet, and how the Qatari gift of a Boeing 747-8 became entangled in that search amid delays and ballooning costs in the official Air Force One replacement program. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the article examines the lavish spending, the disputes over the plane's price and retrofit, and the questions raised about relying on a foreign government — particularly one with a controversial rights record — to supply the president's aircraft. The report notes that the arrangement drew criticism over conflicts of interest, the mixing of personal and official benefit, and the use of a gifted foreign plane for the most sensitive official travel. The findings are as reported by The Sydney Morning Herald; the original article details the costs, the program delays, and the officials involved.