The U.S. Air Force will move forward with President Donald Trump’s preferred paint design for the next generation of Air Force One aircraft, reversing a previous decision made during the Biden administration.

An Air Force official confirmed to CNN that two heavily modified Boeing 747 aircraft, designated VC-25B, will be painted red, white, gold and dark blue. The color scheme was first proposed during Trump’s first term but was later scrapped in 2022 over technical concerns.

“Air Force One is going to be incredible,” Trump said in 2018. “It’s going to be the top of the line, the top in the world. And it’s going to be red, white and blue, which I think is appropriate.”

The aircraft that currently serve as Air Force One have featured a baby blue and white livery since the Kennedy administration in the early 1960s. The original design, created by industrial designer Raymond Loewy, has remained largely unchanged for more than six decades.

Previous Rejection Over Technical Concerns

In 2022, the Air Force rejected Trump’s darker paint scheme during the Biden administration, citing engineering analysis.

“Further analysis concluded darker colors, among other factors, on the underside of the VC-25B aircraft might contribute to temperatures exceeding the current qualification limits of a small number of components,” an Air Force spokesperson said at the time.

Military officials later unveiled renderings in 2023 of a design selected under President Joe Biden that closely resembled the traditional baby blue color palette, albeit slightly darker.

The darker tones proposed under Trump had raised concerns about potential overheating issues, particularly on aircraft surfaces exposed to prolonged sunlight.

Paint Scheme Resurfaces After Reelection

After Trump was reelected, the red, white and dark blue color scheme returned to public view. A model of the redesigned aircraft appeared atop a cake at the Commander in Chief Ball during inauguration festivities. A model of the jet is also displayed on a coffee table in the Oval Office.

A Department of Homeland Security Boeing 737 began flying last year in a similar paint design, signaling the administration’s preference for the updated look.

The Air Force now says the updated livery will be applied not only to the two new Boeing 747 VC-25B aircraft currently being modified by Boeing but also to a Boeing 747 donated to the U.S. military by Qatar. Trump has ordered that jet to be retrofitted for presidential use. Officials have indicated the Qatari aircraft could enter service as early as this summer.

Broader Fleet Updates

In addition to the 747 fleet, the updated color scheme will be applied during scheduled maintenance to four C-32 aircraft. The C-32 is a military version of the Boeing 757 and is used for transporting the vice president and other senior officials.

One C-32 aircraft featuring the new paint design was photographed taking off from Greenville, Texas, earlier this week, according to reporting by military news site TWZ. The Air Force confirmed that one aircraft has already been painted and is expected to be delivered within the next few months.

A Symbolic Shift

The decision marks a significant symbolic shift in the appearance of the presidential aircraft. While the structural modifications to the VC-25B aircraft remain the most critical component of the program, the paint design has drawn outsized attention because of Air Force One’s global visibility.

For Trump, the updated design represents a departure from the Kennedy-era aesthetic and aligns more closely with his stated vision of a bold red, white and blue aircraft.

The Air Force has not released updated cost estimates tied specifically to the paint redesign.

Curious for more stories that keep you informed and entertained? From the latest headlines to everyday insights, YourLifeBuzz has more to explore. Dive into what’s next.