Additional Coverage:
- Trump’s White House branded ‘most embarrassing ever’ over cringy ‘planemaxxing’ post (themirror.com)
The White House has come under fire for posting a boastful message about President Donald Trump’s recent use of Air Force One amid rising casualties in the Middle East conflict.
Trump will be returning to an older Air Force One model for roughly a month while his newer $400 million jet-gifted by Qatar-undergoes what the White House describes as “additional upgrades and enhancements.” Questions have surfaced about the newer plane’s security features, as it reportedly lacks some missile detection and countermeasure systems found on the older aircraft.
In an attempt to put a positive spin on the situation, the White House shared a black-and-white photo of Trump exiting the new plane on its official X account, emblazoned with the term “planemaxxing.” This slang-inspired phrase, combining “plane” with the suffix “-maxxing” (meaning optimizing), was accompanied by a caption stating the jet would be “maxed out” during its upgrade period.
The post quickly drew widespread criticism, particularly given the timing. The number of U.S. service members killed in the ongoing Iran-related conflict has risen to 18, including three fatalities in the past week since hostilities resumed.
Critics on social media expressed outrage at the seemingly tone-deaf message. One user asked, “This is what you’re tweeting about as we lose more U.S. soldiers in Trump’s failed war in Iran for Israel?”
Another called the post “f—— embarrassing” and questioned the judgment of those behind it. Others expressed frustration that while American troops are dying overseas, the White House is focused on a vanity project.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that the new Air Force One is “perfectly safe” but will undergo about a month of upgrades starting this fall. During this time, the president will fly on the older, familiar plane.
The president himself referenced the “maxing out” of the jet upon his recent return to Washington, though his use of the new aircraft has been closely examined. Notably, Trump flew the older, baby blue Air Force One after the NATO summit in Turkey and made an unplanned stop at a U.K. airbase before switching back to the new jet. Trump claimed this stop was to allow U.S. troops at Royal Air Force Mildenhall to see the new plane, denying that security concerns prompted the change-even while acknowledging he faces ongoing threats and labeling himself Iran’s “No. 1” target.
The controversy highlights the sensitivity around presidential messaging during a time of military conflict and loss. Many Americans and observers question the appropriateness of the White House’s tone and priorities as the toll in the Middle East continues to mount.