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Air Force One Receives Trump‑Favored Red, White, Gold, Navy Livery Across Fleet

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    Image: AP
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  • An artist rendering of the new plane colours provided by the US Air Force
    An artist rendering of the new plane colours provided by the US Air Force
    Image: BBC
    An artist rendering of the new plane colours provided by the US Air Force (Courtesy Photo/US Air Force) Source Full size
  • An artist rendering of the new plane colours provided by the US Air Force
    An artist rendering of the new plane colours provided by the US Air Force
    Image: BBC
    An artist rendering of the new plane colours provided by the US Air Force (Courtesy Photo/US Air Force) Source Full size
  • Air Force One in its current colours
    Air Force One in its current colours
    Image: BBC
    Air Force One in its current colours (AFP via Getty Images) Source Full size

New Red, White, Gold, Navy Scheme Officially Adopted The U.S. Air Force announced on Feb 18 2026 that Air Force One and related executive aircraft will be repainted in red, white, gold, and dark‑blue colors favored by former President Donald Trump, replacing the baby‑blue and white scheme used since the Kennedy era. The decision overturns the Biden administration’s 2022 rejection of Trump’s darker palette, which had been deemed costly and technically risky. The rollout follows a 2023 Biden‑selected design that only slightly darkened the historic colors, now fully replaced by the new livery [1][2][3].

Paint Rollout Covers VC‑25B, C‑32s, and Qatar Jet The new scheme will be applied to the VC‑25B Boeing 747‑800/747‑8i that will inherit the Air Force One call sign, to four C‑32 jets used for secondary presidential travel, and to the Qatar‑donated 747‑8i valued at $400 million. One C‑32 has already been completed in the new colors, and a second C‑32 was photographed taking off from Greenville, Texas, in the scheme. The Qatar jet is slated to join the fleet by summer 2026, completing the repainting across the executive fleet [1][2][3].

Modification Costs Under $400 Million, No Schedule Impact Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accepted the Qatar donation in May 2025, and the Air Force estimates security‑related modifications for the jet will cost under $400 million. The United States will absorb all retrofitting expenses, and officials say the paint job will not delay the aircraft’s entry into service. Earlier concerns that darker undersides could overheat components were addressed by engineering reviews, allowing the scheme to proceed without additional budget overruns [1][3].

Trump’s Color Push Reverses Biden’s 2023 Decision Trump first ordered a white‑and‑navy scheme with a red stripe in 2018, aiming to mirror his personal Boeing 757. President Biden halted that plan in March 2023 after an Air Force review warned of higher costs and potential delays. In recent remarks, Trump reiterated a preference for “power blue” over “baby blue,” underscoring his continued influence on the aircraft’s appearance [1][2][3].

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Timeline

1960s – Air Force One adopts a white, robin’s‑egg‑blue livery under President Kennedy, a scheme that endures for six decades as the iconic look of the presidential aircraft [1][2].

2018 – President Donald Trump issues a directive for a new paint scheme featuring a white upper half, dark‑blue lower half and a bold red stripe, mirroring the colours of his personal Boeing 757 [4].

2022 – The Biden administration rejects Trump’s colour plan, citing higher costs and technical concerns that darker undersides could overheat aircraft components [2].

Mar 2023 – President Biden reverses the 2018 plan, approving a slightly darker tint of the traditional baby‑blue livery to maintain continuity with the historic scheme [2][4].

2023 – New renderings released show the Biden‑selected design, preserving the classic blue‑and‑white appearance while updating minor details [2].

May 2025 – Qatar donates a Boeing 747‑8i valued at $400 million to the U.S. presidential fleet; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth formally accepts the gift [4].

2025 (earlier in year) – Congress allocates a historic infusion of funds for DHS to purchase multiple Boeing 737 jets intended for mass‑deportation missions and senior‑official travel [3].

Dec 18, 2025 – DHS unveils a Boeing 737 painted in a Trump‑style red stripe, dark‑blue underbelly and American flag tail, replacing a prior grey‑gold scheme; flight‑tracking shows the plane stops in Oklahoma and Louisiana before arriving in Washington, D.C. [3].

Dec 18, 2025 – DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin states the new 737 cuts ICE flight costs by roughly 40 %, saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars [3].

Dec 18, 2025 – DHS reports more than 605,000 deportations since Trump’s inauguration and 1,701 removal flights to 77 countries, a record increase over the prior administration [3].

Feb 2026 – The U.S. Air Force announces that the VC‑25B (current Air Force One) and four C‑32 executive jets will receive the Trump‑favoured gold, deep‑red and navy paint scheme during scheduled maintenance; one C‑32 is already completed [1][2].

Feb 2026 – The Qatar‑donated 747‑8i will share the new colour palette; all retrofitting costs are borne by the United States, and the paint job is not expected to cause delays or extra expenses [1].

Feb 2026 – The new livery officially replaces the Kennedy‑era white and robin’s‑egg‑blue scheme, ending the six‑decade tradition [1][4].

Feb 2026 – Trump reiterates “we want power blue, not baby blue” in remarks to reporters, underscoring his push for the colour change [4].

Feb 2026 – Boeing begins re‑configuring two newer 747‑800 models that will replace the aging 747‑200 Air Force One fleet and inherit the presidential call sign [4].

Summer 2026 (expected) – The Qatar‑gifted 747‑8i is slated to enter service with the presidential fleet, flying alongside the newly painted VC‑25B and C‑32 aircraft [2][4].

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