Quick Read
- U.S. Air Force to implement Donald Trump’s preferred red, white, dark blue, and gold paint scheme for its executive airlift fleet, including Air Force One.
- The new livery reverses a 2022 rejection by the Biden administration, which cited thermal concerns and potential cost overruns due to darker colors.
- The scheme departs from the traditional robin’s egg blue and white design used since the Kennedy administration.
- The new colors will be applied to the next-generation Boeing 747-8s (VC-25B), a donated Qatari 747 (interim AF1), and four Boeing 757-200s (C-32) VIP transport aircraft.
- One C-32 jet has already been repainted and is expected for delivery soon; the Qatari jet could be flying this summer.
WASHINGTON (Azat TV) – The U.S. Air Force is moving forward with the implementation of a new paint scheme for its executive airlift fleet, including the next-generation Air Force One aircraft, featuring a color palette of red, white, dark blue, and gold. This decision, announced on February 17, 2026, marks a significant reversal of a previous Biden administration rejection and a departure from the traditional livery that has adorned the presidential aircraft for over six decades.
The new design revives elements of former President Donald Trump’s proposed scheme from his first term, which was initially abandoned in 2022. At that time, the Air Force had determined that darker colors on the underside of the VC-25B aircraft, the military designation for the Boeing 747-8i that will serve as Air Force One, could cause overheating issues, potentially exceeding qualification limits for certain components. The Biden administration had cited these ‘thermal concerns’ and potential additional engineering, time, and cost as reasons for rejecting Trump’s original proposal.
Trump’s Vision for Air Force One’s New Look
Donald Trump first unveiled his vision for a redesigned Air Force One in 2018, proposing a departure from the iconic robin’s egg blue and white livery that had been in place since President John F. Kennedy’s administration. Models showcasing the red, white, dark blue, and gold scheme were frequently displayed at White House events and in the Oval Office during his presidency. Trump stated in 2018 that the new Air Force One would be ‘incredible’ and ‘the top of the line, the top in the world,’ emphasizing his preference for a red, white, and blue design.
The traditional baby blue and white livery, chosen by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, has been a symbol of the American presidency for over 60 years. Trump’s proposed change sparked speculation that he intended to replicate the colors of his personal Boeing 757, which prominently featured red, white, and blue.
Reversal and Implementation Despite Prior Concerns
Despite the explicit rejection by the Biden administration in 2022 due to technical and cost reasons, the U.S. Air Force has now confirmed the application of Trump’s preferred color scheme. It was not immediately clear how the new design addresses the thermal concerns that led to the previous rejection. The Air Force did not provide details on any engineering modifications or solutions implemented to mitigate the potential overheating issues.
The new livery will be applied to the two new Boeing 747-8 aircraft, designated VC-25B, currently undergoing extensive modifications to serve as the next-generation Air Force One. These planes are part of a program that has faced significant delays and cost overruns, with delivery now anticipated in 2028, four years behind schedule. The cost for Boeing’s current effort to build the two new jets exceeds $5 billion under a $3.9 billion fixed-price contract signed in 2018.
Expanding the New Paint Scheme to the VIP Fleet
Beyond the primary Air Force One aircraft, the new paint scheme will also be applied to other key components of the executive airlift fleet. This includes a luxury Boeing 747 jetliner donated by the Qatari government, which the White House accepted in 2025. This refurbished Qatari jet, being upgraded by defense contractor L3Harris Technologies, is intended to serve as an interim Air Force One and could be flying as early as this summer, according to CNN.
Additionally, four modified Boeing 757-200s, designated C-32 aircraft, which transport the vice president, cabinet members, members of Congress, and other senior government officials, will also receive the new livery. The Air Force confirmed that these C-32 aircraft will be repainted during their regularly scheduled maintenance windows. One of these jets has already been repainted and is expected to be delivered to the Air Force in the coming months, as reported by CBS News and CNN, with images of the repainted C-32 circulating on defense news websites like The War Zone.
The decision to proceed with Donald Trump’s distinctive Air Force One paint scheme, despite a clear rejection by the subsequent administration based on technical and financial concerns, underscores the enduring influence of presidential preferences on national symbols. This reversal highlights a tension between established tradition, practical considerations, and the desire of individual administrations to imprint their legacy on highly visible assets like the presidential aircraft.