(VIDEO) Trump’s Bold New Look for Air Force One Departs from Kennedy-Era Tradition

The U.S. Air Force is implementing a striking new paint scheme for the presidential aircraft fleet, including the next-generation Air Force One jets, featuring a palette of red, white, dark blue and gold — a design championed by President Donald Trump that breaks from the iconic light blue and white livery in place since the Kennedy administration more than six decades ago.

The Air Force announced the change Feb. 17, 2026, confirming the colors will apply to the VC-25B program — two modified Boeing 747-8 aircraft under conversion by Boeing — as well as other executive airlift planes. The redesign revives a proposal Trump unveiled during his first term in 2019, which the Biden administration scrapped in 2022 over concerns about cost, weight and potential heat absorption from darker hues affecting onboard systems.

An Air Force spokesperson told multiple outlets, including Fox News and Reuters, that the new requirement covers the VC-25B fleet and additional executive aircraft, such as four C-32s (military Boeing 757s often used as Air Force Two). “The Air Force is implementing a new paint scheme requirement (red, white, gold and dark blue) for VC-25B as well as the additional executive airlift fleet,” the statement read.

The shift is already visible: A C-32A VIP jet emerged in late February 2026 sporting the updated livery — white upper fuselage over dark blue lower body, separated by red and gold cheat lines, with a large American flag on the tail — photographed departing from a maintenance facility in Greenville, Texas. Sources indicate the makeover occurs during scheduled maintenance and upgrades, minimizing additional expense.

The design echoes Trump’s personal Boeing 757, often dubbed “Trump Force One,” with its navy blue, red accents and gold touches. Critics have called the scheme flashy and a departure from the understated elegance of the robin’s-egg blue introduced in 1962 for President John F. Kennedy’s VC-137C. Supporters praise it as more “patriotic” and bold, aligning with national colors and Trump’s aesthetic preferences seen in White House decor and campaign branding.

The change extends to a luxury Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar in 2025, which Trump ordered retrofitted as a “bridge” Air Force One. The Air Force expects that aircraft — undergoing extensive security, communications and defensive modifications — to enter service no later than summer 2026, potentially becoming the first presidential plane in the new colors. Boeing’s two VC-25B jets, part of a long-delayed $3.9 billion program signed in 2018, are slated for delivery in coming years, with the new livery applied during final assembly.

The original Trump proposal faced backlash for estimated added costs and engineering risks, including darker colors potentially raising cabin temperatures. The Biden-era reversal restored renders of a modernized Kennedy-style scheme. Trump’s return to office prompted the latest pivot, with the Air Force citing updated requirements in August 2025 briefings.

No immediate safety or operational issues have been reported with the new palette, and the phased rollout — tied to routine overhauls — limits disruption. The iconic blue-and-white look has symbolized American presidential aviation through multiple administrations, appearing in countless state visits, summits and homecomings.

Reactions have been mixed. Aviation enthusiasts and historians expressed disappointment over losing a 60-year tradition, while others welcomed a fresh, assertive appearance. Social media buzzed with comparisons to Trump’s branding, with some dubbing it “Trump Force One official.”

As the first painted aircraft re-enter service in the coming months, the new look will become a visible symbol of the administration’s style on the global stage. The VC-25B fleet, once fully operational, will represent the most significant update to presidential airlift since the current VC-25As entered service in the 1990s.