Staff Reports
If Donald Trump finds his way back into the Oval Office, the infamous Air Force One could be sporting a brand new wardrobe—one reminiscent of his luxurious personal jet, decked out in striking red, white, and dark blue. Rumors are swirling that the former president is keeping his ambitious design firmly on the table, much to the delight of his supporters and the horror of those in the opposing political camp.
A recent sighting of Trump’s new Boeing 737-800 gave a sneak peek at his preferred colors, looking less like a government aircraft and more like a weekend private flyer. The plane was spotted at Kansas City International Airport, sporting the Trump Force 47 logo, a stark reminder of the glamor associated with Trump. It’s hard not to chuckle at the idea of bureaucrats pondering how they’d explain to the American public why the commander-in-chief prefers style over the traditional drab color palette.
🔴 The new Trump Vance Boeing 737-800 (N917XA) has just rolled out of the hangar at MCI airport. Previously operated by Eastern Airlines, the aircraft also sports a Trump Force 47 logo visible on the engine cowling. #Airways #News pic.twitter.com/dJYIkTSVoL
— Airways Magazine (@airwaysmagazine) July 16, 2024
What makes this whole Air Force One saga even more interesting is the ongoing saga of the two Boeing 747-8s, which the Air Force is still expecting to deliver sometime in 2026 or 2027. Here lies the rub—these planes are currently on a path riddled with overruns and delays, ballooning costs far beyond their initial budget. Unbelievably, they’re intended to flaunt the old-school white and light blue paint scheme that has dominated since John F. Kennedy’s time, but wouldn’t it be just like Trump to swoop in and say, “Not on my watch?”
In 2019, Trump voiced his desire to shake things up with a significant redesign, one he insisted would reflect America’s true colors and strength. A senior official from his administration recounted that the concept model was a frequent conversation starter, indicating how seriously Trump contemplated a change. However, in more recent months, Biden’s crew nixed Trump’s bold colors, opting instead for more subdued tones. Because evidently, political preference now extends to aircraft paint jobs, too.
Boeing has also been singing the blues about the dark paint scheme, citing potential overheating issues that could lead to more engineering headaches and even greater delays. And so one has to wonder—are the Democrats really concerned about aesthetics or is this a thinly veiled attempt to undermine Trump’s legacy? A Trump spokesman sarcastically noted that Biden’s choice sounded like a blatant disregard for America’s patriotic colors, raising a question about how far partisanship will infiltrate even the most basic representations of national pride.
Despite the Democratic opposition to Trump’s proposed paint job, which was crystal clear when Congress moved to limit changes, this was nothing new. Those blockers were partially motivated by the notion that Trump’s initiative was a way to funnel unnecessary expenses to the taxpayer’s bill. However, many Republicans felt this was merely a political jab at the former president. The debate quickly turned into a circus of petty politics, with critics bemoaning that such measures to restrict color choices were unprecedented before Trump took office. As debates simmer down, one has to wonder if America’s skies could soon shine bright with the colors of a Trump presidency or remain draped in traditional government gray.
