Air Force One To Receive Trump-Backed Red, White And Blue Livery
The Air Force announced Feb. 17 a red, white, gold and dark blue livery for VC-25Bs, a donated 747-8i and C-32s, reviving a redesign President Trump had sought and noting retrofit and delivery costs.
Overview
The U.S. Air Force announced on Feb. 17 that it will apply a red, white, gold and dark blue paint scheme to VC-25B aircraft and other executive jets.
The livery revives a redesign President Donald Trump had sought and replaces the Kennedy-era light blue-and-white colors, the Air Force said.
An Air Force spokesperson said repainting will include two VC-25Bs, a 747-8i donated by Qatar and four C-32 aircraft, and that one C-32 has already been painted.
The donated Boeing 747-8i was valued at $400 million, security modifications were said to cost less than $400 million, and Boeing's contract to build two new 747-8s has exceeded $5 billion.
The first repainted C-32 is expected to be delivered in the next few months, and two 747-8 aircraft are expected for delivery in 2028, the Air Force said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story around presidential branding and governance questions by foregrounding Trump's role and adding critical institutional context. Editorial choices — loaded words like "championed" and "luxury," emphasis on Boeing cost overruns and Qatar ethics questions, and leading with Trump's aesthetic preference — steer readers toward scrutiny, while direct quotes (e.g., “power blue”) remain source content.
Sources (10)
FAQ
President Trump championed the new red, white, gold, and dark blue livery during his first term, stating that Air Force One should be 'red, white and blue, which I think is appropriate.'[1] The Biden administration reversed this decision in favor of the Kennedy-era light blue-and-white scheme, but Trump's return to office has revived the initiative.[2][3] The redesign applies to the VC-25B aircraft, a 747-8i donated by Qatar, and C-32 executive jets.
U.S. Air Force officials have noted that the darker livery absorbs heat in ways that could adversely affect the aircraft's thermal characteristics.[1] Darker paint schemes contribute to higher surface temperatures than lighter colors, and the numerous communications antennas, sensors, and other equipment on presidential aircraft would need to be certified as compatible with the new livery design.[4]
The Air Force is implementing the livery through a phased rollout as aircraft cycle through scheduled maintenance rather than through a fleetwide grounding.[3] One C-32 aircraft has already been repainted and is expected to be delivered within the next few months, while the two new 747-8 aircraft are expected for delivery in 2028.[3]
The Kennedy-era light blue-and-white scheme has defined the U.S. presidential aircraft fleet for over 60 years and was designed with input from First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and legendary designer Raymond Loewy.[2][3] This marks the first major redesign of the iconic livery since the Kennedy administration, making it a significant break from decades of tradition in presidential aircraft branding.[3]
The repainting applies to two VC-25B aircraft, a Boeing 747-8i that Qatar donated to the U.S., and four C-32 aircraft used as Air Force Two and for other senior government travel.[1][3] The new livery features white over dark blue separated by red and gold accent lines, along with a large American flag on the tail similar to the one on Trump's personal 757.
History
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