 "Elon Musk’s use of President’s Air Force One plane has sparked outrage. Here’s why")
Air Force One, an aircraft synonymous with the President of the United States, had an unusual guest this time—Elon Musk.
The billionaire tech mogul, along with his mother Maye Musk and four-year-old son X Æ A-12, was seen deplaning the special presidential aircraft alongside Donald Trump at Joint Base Andrews last Sunday.
But the sight of one of the world’s richest men and his family using the taxpayer-funded government aircraft didn’t sit well with many. Critics call it a blatant misuse of government resources—especially when Musk has an entire fleet of private jets at his disposal.
But is it unusual for presidents to invite others aboard their plane? What makes Air Force One so special? What are people saying? We explain.
Aboard the Presidential air fleet
On Sunday evening, Elon Musk was accompanied by his mother, Maye Musk , and his four-year-old son, X Æ A-12, as they travelled aboard Air Force One. Photos captured the family waving at cameras as they stepped off the aircraft.
The plane touched down at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, a military base near Washington, DC, home to the Presidential Airlift Group, which manages the US president’s air transport. According to the base’s website, Basedirectory.com, this is where the president’s aircraft are stationed.
As Trump exited the aircraft, Musk followed close behind, carrying his son on his shoulders and waving to the cameras. His mother, Maye, walked beside him, also acknowledging the photographers with a wave.
Arriving on Marine One at White House with President Trump: Elon Musk, his mother Maye Musk , and his son X Æ A-12 pic.twitter.com/z1VEamJHSK
— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) March 3, 2025
Earlier, Maye Musk had shared glimpses of her Mar-a-Lago visit on social media, revealing that she had spent time at Trump’s billion dollar Florida residence. In a video, she captured Trump and her son making a surprise appearance at the club over the weekend. “It was wonderful to experience the excitement and happiness in the room,” she wrote, adding heart-eyes emojis.
After the trip, Trump returned to the White House ahead of his first congressional address on Tuesday. He was also accompanied by Melania Trump’s father, Viktor Knavs, Daily Mail reported.
Photos later showed Marine One, the president’s official helicopter, landing on the South Lawn of the White House on Sunday night. As Trump stepped off, Musk, his mother, and his son could be seen still inside the aircraft.
Soon after, Musk and his son were seen entering the White House, sparking speculations on social media whether the Tesla CEO and his family were chauffeured around and whether they were staying there.
What is so special about Air Force One?
Air Force One isn’t actually a specific plane—it’s the call sign assigned to the aircraft carrying the President of the United States.
The aircraft itself is a flying fortress, offering around 370 square metres of space to accommodate the president, key officials, and members of the media. Trump has his own lavishly fitted suite onboard, complete with a large office, a private lavatory, and a conference room.
The aircraft’s two kitchens are designed to serve up to 100 people at a time, and much of the furniture inside was handcrafted.
Beyond its opulence, Air Force One is built to withstand extreme threats. It is hardened against electromagnetic pulses, the kind that could result from a nuclear explosion, allowing it to function as a mobile command centre in the event of a national crisis. The plane is also equipped with an array of advanced electronic countermeasures to protect against missile attacks, similar to those found in military aircraft.
The cost of flying the airplane? According to Freedom of Information Act disclosures from 2017, operating Air Force One costs a jaw-dropping $142,380 (Rs 1.24 crore) per hour of flight time.
While traditionally reserved for the president, high-ranking officials, and key staff members for use, it’s not uncommon for US leaders to invite guests aboard Air Force One. Over the years, presidents have often brought along extended family members on official trips.
Former president Biden, for instance, frequently travelled with family, including his son Hunter, his wife, grandchildren, and even nephews and nieces.
However, Musk’s appearance on Air Force One—accompanied by his family—has led many to speculate his growing influence and powers in the White House.
‘A government waste’
As images of Musk, his mother, and his son stepping off Air Force One spread online, social media erupted with criticism. Many questioned why a billionaire—who owns multiple private jets—was flying on taxpayer-funded government transport.
“Your tax dollars are paying for the richest man in the world to fly around when he has his own jets. That’s government waste,” wrote The Lincoln Project, a political advocacy group, on X.
Your federal taxes are now paying for Musk's MOTHER to travel on Air Force One and the other bird. pic.twitter.com/dW3IjchuB6
— 𓂀 𝕋𝔼𝔸ℍ 𓂀 (@TeahCartel) March 3, 2025
Marty Taylor, an X user with more than 24,000 followers, went a step further, calling the move “outrageous and possibly illegal.” He wrote, “No matter how much Donald Trump and scared, complicit Republicans want Elon Musk to be president, he is not, and Air Force One should not be used for Musk and his family. Musk owns a fleet of jets. Let him pay for his own travel and lodging. And keep his a* out of our White House.”*
However, not everyone was outraged. Some social media users saw nothing unusual about Musk travelling on Air Force One, especially in his role as a senior adviser.
“They’re working while being green and flying together. There is nothing strange about a president flying with an adviser,” commented ResethO, an X user with over 16,000 followers.
The controversy comes amid growing concerns over Musk’s increasing authority in the White House.
Since taking office, his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has gained access to sensitive databases, overseen mass federal job cuts , cancelled contracts, and even shut down parts of the government—including the US Agency for International Development ( USAID) .
With input from agencies
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