WASHINGTON — If Donald Trump wants someone to blame for his still having to ride around in a 40-year-old Air Force One, he might consider starting with a long look in the mirror.
And if Americans want someone to blame for their future presidents being saddled with a plane lacking a key wartime capability, they should consider taking a long look at the current president.
The drama surrounding Trump’s turn to the Qatari royal family for a 747 luxurious enough to meet his needs as he attacks Boeing for not finishing replacement jets quickly enough hides a pair of simple facts: The entire debacle began with Trump’s self-image as a top-notch “deal maker,” and his meddling will leave future presidents with planes unable to refuel in flight, severely degrading their utility in an actual war.
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Before he even took office the first time in 2017, Trump was already boasting that he would force Boeing — which had been on pace to deliver two new, purpose-built 747s by the end of that term — to slash its contract price.
