ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. — President Donald Trump pulled back the curtain Friday on a revamped Air Force One — a massive Boeing 747 jet formerly belonging to Qatar that has been transformed into the official aircraft of the U.S. president.
The plane sports a dramatically different appearance compared to its predecessor. Gone is the pale blue exterior that has been associated with the presidential aircraft since the Kennedy administration. In its place, the belly of the aircraft is painted a deep navy blue, topped by a bold red stripe. The presidential seal is displayed on the left side of the plane — the side used for boarding — while a large American flag dominates the tail.
Standing inside a packed hangar at Andrews Air Force Base before a crowd of several hundred Air Force personnel, Trump praised the craftsmanship of the aircraft after stepping off the plane to the sounds of his signature song, “God Bless the USA.” “The workmanship of this plane is, when you see it, you won’t believe it,” Trump said.
The Qatar-gifted jet is being used as a so-called “bridge” aircraft — a temporary solution to transport the president while a brand-new fleet ordered directly from Boeing is completed. That delivery is currently expected in 2028.
The administration officially accepted the luxury jet from Qatar last year to serve as the presidential plane, though the move sparked ethical and legal questions about receiving such a high-value gift from a foreign government. Trump has previously stated he does not intend to use the Qatari jet after leaving office, saying it would eventually be donated to a future presidential library.
The Air Force has previously indicated that security upgrades to the aircraft would run under $400 million.
Trump’s push to redesign the presidential plane goes back to his first term in office, when he directed that an incoming fleet of jets adopt a color scheme closely resembling that of his personal aircraft. That plan was reversed in March 2023 by then-President Joe Biden, after an Air Force review found that the darker paint could drive up costs and slow down delivery of the new planes. When Trump returned to office, he reinstated his preferred design.
The Air Force announced earlier this year that other government jets used by top administration officials would also adopt the red, white, and navy color scheme.
An Air Force spokesperson, speaking anonymously to discuss sensitive planning details, told the Associated Press that the two existing presidential aircraft — known as VC-25As — will not be retired. They will remain active until the new Boeing jets, designated VC-25Bs, enter service. How the older planes will be used going forward remains unclear, but the spokesperson noted that both the Qatari aircraft and the VC-25As will remain available, with the Presidential Airlift Group choosing “the appropriate aircraft for each mission based on operational requirements.”
