Air Force One to Be Repainted in Trump's Favourite Colours
The presidential aircraft Air Force One is expected to be repainted in President Donald Trump’s favourite colours — red, white, gold, and dark blue — according to confirmation from NewsNation, an affiliate network of The Hill, on Wednesday, 18 February 2026.
Both the luxury jet donated by Qatar and the new Boeing VC-25B jets will feature the new colour scheme, an Air Force spokesperson told NewsNation. The designation Air Force One is given to any aircraft carrying the President of the United States.
The new design marks a departure from the two-tone white and blue livery that has been in use since the administration of President John F. Kennedy. It revives elements of the red, white, and blue scheme proposed by President Trump that was cancelled in 2022 after the Air Force determined that darker colours could cause overheating problems.
The Air Force One programme involves converting two Boeing 747-8 aircraft into specialised jets equipped with advanced communication and defence systems to serve as the next generation of US presidential air transport. The effort is running four years behind schedule, with delivery now expected to be completed by 2028.
As an interim solution, the US government has appointed defence contractor L3Harris Technologies (LHX.N) to overhaul a Boeing 747 at its facility in Greenville, Texas — the aircraft previously used by the Qatari government — for use as a temporary Air Force One.
In 2025, the United States received a luxury Boeing 747 jetliner as a gift from Qatar. The White House asked the Air Force to promptly upgrade the gift for use as Air Force One.
Additionally, four smaller Boeing C-32 aircraft — used to transport the Vice President, cabinet members, members of Congress, and other senior government officials — will also be modified to feature the new livery, the Air Force said.
The C-32 aircraft will receive their new colour scheme during regularly scheduled maintenance windows. One of the jets has already been repainted and will be delivered in the coming months, the Air Force said.