Air Force One fleet to get Trump-inspired makeover

New color scheme of red, white, gold, and blue to replace iconic Kennedy-era design

Feb. 24, 2026 at 1:39am

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The iconic blue and white paint scheme that has adorned Air Force One since the Kennedy administration is set to be replaced with a new color scheme of red, white, gold, and dark blue, which are colors identified as President Trump's preferred palette. Both the luxury jet donated by Qatar and the new VC-25B Boeing jets will be repainted, along with four smaller C-32 aircraft that serve as Air Force Two.

Why it matters

The current Air Force One livery is one of the most recognizable designs in the world, a symbol of American presidential power. While the airplane is the symbol, the colors are just colors, and presidents have historically customized the appearance of the presidential fleet to reflect their personal preferences.

The details

The new scheme trades the familiar robin's egg blue for a darker, bolder combination that leans into the national colors with an added touch of gold. One of the C-32 aircraft has already been completed at the L3Harris plant in Greenville, Texas, and is expected to be delivered to the Air Force in the next few months.

  • The current Air Force One livery dates back to the Kennedy era.
  • The new VC-25B Boeing jets are set to be repainted in the new color scheme.
  • One of the C-32 aircraft has already been completed at the L3Harris plant in Greenville, Texas, and is expected to be delivered to the Air Force in the next few months.

The players

Air Force

The U.S. Air Force is responsible for the maintenance and operation of the presidential aircraft fleet, including Air Force One and Air Force Two.

L3Harris

An aerospace and defense technology company that is responsible for the paint job on one of the C-32 aircraft at their plant in Greenville, Texas.

President Trump

The current President of the United States who has expressed a preference for the new color scheme of red, white, gold, and dark blue.

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What’s next

The new VC-25B Boeing jets are still in development and will need to be completed and made mission-ready before the new color scheme can be applied.

The takeaway

While the new color scheme may generate controversy, the real story is the state of the presidential air fleet and ensuring the planes are operational and capable of serving the commander-in-chief. The paint is just one aspect of the larger effort to modernize and maintain the iconic Air Force One and Air Force Two aircraft.