Given the delays, should the US government consider purchasing Airbus planes for use as Air Force One planes instead of Boeing airplanes?

Purchasing an Airbus airplane would still require that Airbus to be modified with the necessary systems and interior to be Air Force One. It is not as simple as buying a standard airliner. The two undelivered secondhand 747–8i being modified to be Air Force One is not going to be a standard airliner. The interior would be similar to the current 747–200 Air Force One; executive suite, conference/operations room for the support command/intelligence staff, communications room with stations for VHF/UHF/Satellite data links and voice radio and the crew to operate it, full medical suite with operating room and medical staff, the necessary restrooms and galleys, and enough passenger seats to accommodate the ride along Press corps and rest area for the off duty military aircrew (reserve pilots, load master), command staff, communications operators, secret service agents, congressional members, the President’s posse. All the electrical and data bus components and wiring would have to be replaced to be shielded for electromagnetic pulse (EMP). Without it a close nuclear explosion could create an EMP that could fry all the electronics on the airplane (flight control computers, communications, navigation, engine controls, etc). Defensive systems would include laser dazzlers and flare decoy magazines to blind or misdirect infrared guided missiles, electronic warfare transmitters to jam radar guided missiles. The current delay is being caused by additional specification changes which would cause additional engineering time, testing, manufacturing especially if it was not designed yet. Buying an Airbus would just start the process all over again except none of these changes have ever been designed for Airbus airplanes.