WASHINGTON (AP) — A red, white, and blue color scheme championed by President Donald Trump will become the new look for Air Force One, the U.S. military confirmed Thursday. The decision marks the formal end of the iconic “light blue” era that has defined the presidential aircraft for over six decades, signaling a bold aesthetic shift that aligns the nation’s most visible symbol of power with the personal brand of its current commander-in-chief.
The Air Force stated that a “red, white, gold, and dark blue paint scheme” will be applied to the updated VC-25B jets slated to serve as the primary Air Force One aircraft. This transformation will not be limited to the heavy hitters; the military confirmed the same livery will be extended to other, smaller jets within the executive airlift fleet that routinely transport the Vice President, Cabinet members, and other top government officials.
Along with the announcement, the military released an official rendering of the new look. The image matches a desktop airplane model that has been a fixture in the Oval Office during President Trump’s meetings with foreign leaders, featuring a dark navy-blue underbelly and a vibrant red cheat line.
A Return to the “Trumpian” Vision
The move represents a successful push by President Trump to fulfill a design vision he first proposed during his initial term in 2018. At the time, Trump directed that the new jets ditch the “baby blue” design—originally selected during the Kennedy administration—for a more “patriotic” palette.
Under the newly finalized plan:
- The Upper Fuselage: Will be brilliant white.
- The Lower Fuselage: Including the belly and engine nacelles, will be finished in a deep navy blue.
- The Accent: A “streak of dark red” will run from the cockpit to the tail, separated by gold trim.
- The Tail: Will feature a large American flag, depicted in a style that mimics the livery of the President’s personal Boeing 757, often referred to as “Trump Force One.”
“We want ‘power blue,’ not baby blue,” Trump told reporters last month, referencing the current robin’s-egg blue. “Everything has its time and place, and the time for a change is now. This represents American strength.”
Overcoming Technical and Political Turbulence
The path to this new paint job has been anything but smooth. In 2023, the Biden administration formally scrapped Trump’s design after an Air Force review suggested that the darker colors—specifically the dark blue on the underside—could contribute to excessive heat buildup. Engineers warned that the darker pigment would absorb more solar radiation, potentially requiring additional cooling equipment and leading to weight increases or delivery delays.
However, since returning to office, the Trump administration has prioritized the redesign. Air Force officials now state that the “red, white, gold, and dark blue” scheme has been engineered to meet all operational requirements. To mitigate previous overheating concerns, the military is reportedly using advanced, heat-reflective paint technologies that allow for the darker aesthetic without compromising the sensitive electronics housed within the “Flying Oval Office.”
Expanding the Fleet: The Qatari Gift
The announcement comes amid broader updates to the presidential fleet. Last May, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth formally accepted a luxury Boeing 747-8i jet from Qatar. Despite initial questions regarding the ethics of accepting such an expensive gift from a foreign nation, the aircraft is currently being integrated into the U.S. executive fleet.
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink informed lawmakers last June that security modifications for this specific jet would cost less than $400 million. This aircraft, along with the two VC-25Bs currently being modified by Boeing, will all receive the new “Trumpian” livery. Additionally, four C-32 aircraft—frequently used by the Vice President and often carrying the “Air Force Two” call sign—are already being repainted during their regularly scheduled maintenance cycles.
The End of the Kennedy Era
The retiring livery, characterized by its distinctive shades of cyan and silver, was created in 1962 by industrial designer Raymond Loewy at the request of President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. For 64 years, it served as a neutral, “calm” representation of American diplomacy across the globe.
While critics argue that changing the design discards a piece of American history, supporters of the move claim the new scheme is a necessary modernization. “Air Force One is the ultimate billboard for the United States,” said one senior administration official. “It should look as modern and powerful as the country it represents.”
Boeing is currently in the final stages of modifying the two 747-800 aircraft. While the program has faced significant delays—with the first of the new jets not expected to be fully operational until at least 2027 or 2028—the paint scheme is now a settled matter of military record.