Air Force One to be repainted in red, white, dark blue colors, with gold stripe
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The U.S. Air Force will repaint Air Force One and other aircraft in the presidential and executive fleet in President Donald Trump’s preferred color palette of red, white and dark blue, replacing the iconic light blue and white design that has defined the aircraft for more than six decades, an Air Force spokesperson confirmed to Fox News.
The updated design will also feature a gold stripe, adding a fourth color to the new look. The plan will appear on aircraft in the executive airlift fleet, including a donated Qatar 747-8i and two Boeing VC-25B jets currently being converted to serve as the next generation of Air Force One.
An Air Force spokesperson told Fox News that the redesign is now a formal requirement across the presidential and executive squadrons.
“The Air Force is implementing a new paint scheme requirement (red, white and dark blue) for the additional executive airlift fleet, which will include the VC-25B as well as the new 747-8i and four C-32 aircraft,” the spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News. he said.
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U.S. president Donald J. Trump bids farewell and boards US Air Force One at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Aug. 15, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Moises Vasquez)
“C-32s will be painted during regular scheduled maintenance. The first C-32 has been painted and is expected to be delivered to the Air Force within the next few months.”
“We’re painting it red, white and blue like the American flag, which is incredible,” President Trump said in an exclusive interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity last summer.
CBS News first reported Aircraft in the Presidential and VIP fleets were being repainted in dark blue, dark red and gold during planned repairs and maintenance. Sources told CBS that the change applies not only to Air Force One jets but also to other aircraft used for administrative transportation.
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VC-25 aircraft and crew, better known as Air Force One, stand ready for President Donald J. Trump’s arrival at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, June 20, 2020. When the president boards any Air Force aircraft, his radio call sign is “Air Force One.” (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kentavist P. Brackin)
For more than sixty years, the familiar robin’s egg blue and white exterior has served as a global symbol of the American presidency. The color scheme dates back to the early 1960s, when it was introduced during the administration of President John F. Kennedy and became one of the most recognized aviation designs in the world.
Trump unveiled a model plane that reflects the red, white and blue palette he favored during his first term. This version of the design was later canceled for the VC-25B program during the Biden administration.
Trump’s own Boeing 757, commonly known as “Trump Force One,” carries a dark navy blue fuselage with distinctive red striping; this is a different look, very similar to the palette currently implemented in the administrative fleet.
The updated paint requirement applies to multiple aircraft types in the administrative fleet, including two Boeing VC-25B aircraft in development, a newly donated 747-8i from Qatar, and four C-32 aircraft used for administrative transportation.
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Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump arrived at Philadelphia International Airport on the Trump Organization’s Boeing 757 aircraft, nicknamed Trump Force One, ahead of the ABC News Presidential Debate to be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 10, 2024. (Julia Beverly/Getty Images)
C-32 aircraft carry high-priority personnel such as the first lady and cabinet officials and serve as Air Force Two when the vice president is on board. Contractor L3Harris is refurbishing these planes at its facility in Greenville, Texas, according to CBS.
The change represents the first major redesign of the presidential aircraft since the Kennedy era. The shift to darker navy blue tones, crimson accents and gold stripes marks a sharp departure from the longstanding design of the planes that serve as aerial symbols of the presidency.
The first C-32 aircraft has been repainted and is expected to be delivered to the Air Force in the coming months, the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, according to CBS news, the 747-8i, donated by Qatar and currently under renovation, is expected to be ready for presidential use this summer at the latest.
Boeing signed the contract for the construction of the next generation Air Force One aircraft in 2018 and continues to work on the program.
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The repaint effort implements the presidential aircraft design favored by the Trump administration as the new fleet approaches operational readiness.
The White House referred Fox News Digital to the U.S. Air Force for further comment.
