Trump gripes about aging Air Force One, declares new ones are coming amid outcry over Qatar jet gift

ABU DHABI — President Trump groaned about returning from a lavish trip to the Middle East Friday aboard an aging Air Force One — before proclaiming “new ones are coming” amid bipartisan outcry over his plans to accept a gifted luxury jet from Qatar to use as a replacement.“I leave now and get onto a 42-year-old Boeing.But new ones are coming.

New ones are coming,” Trump said during an event in the capital city of the United Arab Emirates.Trump served as America’s chief salesman on the three-nation tour — including delivering windfalls for Boeing, with Qatar Airways and the UAE’s Etihad Airways agreeing to spend more than $110 billion on 238 American-made passenger jets.“Boeing makes the best plane, and they’ve had some headaches over the past years,” Trump said during a business presentation on the final day of his trip.It’s unclear if Trump’s declaration that new versions of Air Force One are coming signals he changed his mind about accepting the $400 million Qatari “palace on wings,” which Trump previously said “only a fool” would refuse.Congressional Republicans including Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Sen.Rand Paul (R-Ky.) have criticized the president’s plan, as have influential conservatives including pundit Mark Levin and former George W.

Bush White House press secretary Ari Fleischer.Trump, who said Monday he was “disappointed” that Boeing would be unable to deliver new versions of Air Force One before 2027, praised the company during his trip — and sat next to Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg during an event in Qatar in Thursday.The president touted the plane-maker’s role in developing the new F-47 fighter jet, named partially in the 47th president’s honor, and said he wants to award a new contract for them to build a previously undisclosed F-55 fighter jet as well....