Air Force One to get new red, white and blue livery under Trump plan

Aircraft used as Air Force One are set to receive a new red, white and blue colour scheme in line with US President Donald Trump’s long-standing vision for the presidential fleet, according to US media reports.

The updated design will replace the light blue and white livery that has been in use since the early 1960s, when President John F. Kennedy approved the now-iconic look. That design, created during the Kennedy administration, has remained largely unchanged for decades.

Trump had previously pushed for a redesign during his first term from 2017 to 2021. However, the plan was later shelved under President Joe Biden’s administration, reportedly due to cost considerations and technical concerns. Officials had cited potential overheating risks associated with darker paint colours.

New design details

According to reports, the new livery will feature the colours of the American flag—red, white and blue—along with a gold stripe. The gold detailing reflects Trump’s well-known aesthetic preferences, which have also been visible in decorative updates to the Oval Office.

The redesign is said to resemble Trump’s personal aircraft, which features a navy and white colour scheme accented by a red stripe.

A spokesperson for the US Air Force told CBS News that the updated design will be applied not only to the primary Air Force One aircraft but also to other planes in the executive fleet. These include the Boeing 747 aircraft typically used to transport the president and the smaller Boeing C-32 planes that carry senior US officials and the first lady.

The luxury Boeing jet donated by Qatar to the United States last year is also expected to receive the new paint scheme. The aircraft, reportedly valued at around $400 million (€337.76 million), sparked controversy at the time of the donation. According to CBS, the plane could be ready for presidential use by the summer. The first repainted C-32 aircraft has already been completed and may be delivered in the coming months.

Presidential vision

While the White House has not yet formally commented on the latest reports, Trump has previously spoken enthusiastically about plans to overhaul the aircraft’s appearance.

In 2018, he described the proposed redesign in an interview with CBS News, saying: “Air Force One is going to be incredible. It’s gonna be the top of the line, the top in the world. And it’s gonna be red, white and blue, which I think is appropriate.”

“Air Force One” is the call sign used for any US Air Force aircraft carrying the president. The planes are heavily modified to serve as flying command centres, equipped with advanced communications systems and security features.

If implemented as planned, the redesign would mark the first major visual change to the presidential aircraft in more than six decades.

By Vugar Khalilov