WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump recently explored a Boeing aircraft to examine its advanced hardware and technological upgrades. The visit also served to bring attention to delays in delivering the modernized versions of the Air Force One presidential jet, as stated by the White House on Saturday.

During his tour, Trump inspected a 13-year-old private plane stationed at Palm Beach International Airport.

According to White House communications director Steven Cheung, “President Trump is reviewing a new Boeing plane to investigate the latest hardware and technology. This visit underscores the project’s failure to meet its deadline for delivering a new Air Force One as initially promised.”

Air Force One refers to a specially modified Boeing 747, with two such aircraft currently in operation. Both jets are over 30 years old, while Boeing Inc. holds the contract for producing their replacements. However, the company has encountered substantial financial losses in this project, contributing to the delays.

The original delivery date was anticipated for 2024 but has been postponed to 2027 for the first aircraft and 2028 for the second, which will coincide with Trump’s final year in office, according to the U.S. Air Force.

Trump has frequently criticized the escalating costs and setbacks associated with the project. In a 2024 online discussion with Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk, he revealed that he managed to reduce the project cost by over $1 billion through negotiations with Boeing during his presidency.

“In just about four weeks, by indicating I wouldn’t proceed, I succeeded in lowering the price by $1.6 billion for the exact same plane, aside from a more elegant paint job, if you want the truth,” Trump stated.

Musk, a billionaire investor who supported Trump’s 2024 campaign, is also heading a newly established Department of Government Efficiency aimed at streamlining government operations by cutting spending, eliminating unnecessary agencies, and reducing the federal workforce. His approach has faced some criticism.

Last month, Boeing’s CEO Kelly Ortberg confirmed that Musk is collaborating with the company to expedite the delivery of the new Air Force One aircraft.

Additionally, Trump has expressed a desire to alter Air Force One’s color scheme from light blue to a darker shade. Previously, an attempt to change the colors was abandoned by then-President Joe Biden after a study revealed that such a modification would necessitate extensive testing and could lead to further delays and increased costs.