Trump defended upgrading Air Force One during remarks to Air Force personnel, citing optics on the world stage.

He noted foreign leaders arriving in newer Boeing 747s while the U.S. presidential aircraft is 35 years old.

"These countries have a lot of respect for us—and yet they have a plane that's much better and much newer. It's a little ridiculous," Trump said.

The comment frames the replacement as a matter of projecting American strength and credibility in diplomatic settings.