President Donald Trump has unveiled a new Air Force One, a Boeing 747 previously owned by Qatar, which will serve as a temporary presidential aircraft. The redesigned jet features a new color scheme and will be used until Boeing delivers the replacement fleet in 2028.
The unveiling of the new Air Force One highlights President Trump's personal influence on presidential assets and the ongoing complexities of the official aircraft program, including delays and the acceptance of foreign gifts.
President Donald Trump has unveiled a new Air Force One, a Boeing 747 previously owned by Qatar, which will serve as the official aircraft for the US president. The redesigned jet replaces the Kennedy-era pale blue livery with a more striking color scheme featuring a navy blue underside, a red stripe running along the fuselage, and a large American flag on the tail. The presidential seal is displayed beside the forward boarding door.
"This plane was transformed into a flying White House at a level of luxury that nobody has ever seen before," Trump said during the unveiling at Joint Base Andrews. He confirmed that he would use the new jet for the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, and indicated future travel to China. Trump noted that the new design and colors were to his taste and that the aircraft would perform a flyover during the July 4 celebrations.
The Qatari gift is intended as a "bridge" aircraft until the new planes ordered directly from Boeing arrive, a delivery currently slated for 2028, having been delayed from an original 2024 schedule. Trump recalled asking the emir of Qatar for the use of one of their planes, stating that a "normal president" would not do so but that the country must be represented properly. The Air Force stated that the Qatari plane was modified under a disciplined engineering approach that prioritized rigorous security requirements, keeping much of the previous head of state interior layout intact. Security modifications were estimated to cost less than $400 million.
Trump's initiative to redesign the presidential airplane's color scheme dates back to his first administration. Then-President Joe Biden reversed this decision in March 2023, citing potential cost increases and delivery delays, but Trump reinstated his preferred colors upon returning to office. Other government jets carrying top administration officials will also adopt a similar red, white, and navy color scheme. An Air Force spokesperson confirmed that the two current presidential aircraft (VC-25As) will not be retired and will remain in service until the new Boeing planes (VC-25Bs) are operational, with the Presidential Airlift Group selecting the appropriate aircraft for each mission.
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