Photos taken at Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C., show the Department of Homeland Security’s newly acquired Boeing 737 sporting a paint scheme many observers say resembles former President Donald Trump’s private 757: a deep red stripe along the fuselage, a dark-blue underside and an American flag on the tail.
Appearance And Potential Origin
The livery mirrors colors and design elements long associated with Mr. Trump’s aircraft, nicknamed “Trump Force One.” Online photos indicate the DHS jet previously carried a deep gray-and-gold scheme. Open-source flight-tracking logs compiled by ADS-B Exchange show the aircraft made stops in Ardmore, Oklahoma, and Lake Charles, Louisiana, before arriving in the Washington area — the latter city where Landlocked Aviation, the company involved in repainting Trump’s 757, maintains an office.
Company And Agency Responses
CNN contacted Landlocked Aviation, which declined to confirm whether it worked on the DHS plane. The Department of Homeland Security was also asked for comment. At the time of reporting, neither organization confirmed a direct connection between the repainting work and the new DHS jet.
A cake representation of the new Air Force One design is displayed on stage during the Commander-In-Chief inaugural ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025. - Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty Images
Why The Plane Matters
Congress provided DHS with increased funding earlier this year to expand its transport capabilities. That money has helped the department acquire its own fleet of Boeing 737s intended to serve dual roles: carrying out some immigration removal flights and supporting Cabinet-level travel.
Cost Claim: Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told reporters the new jet "will serve dual missions — both as ICE deportation flights and for cabinet level travel. This plane flies at 40% cheaper than what the military aircraft flies for ICE deportation flights — saving the American taxpayer hundreds of millions of dollars."
Deportation Activity And Context
DHS announced this month that it had carried out more than 605,000 removals since January, according to agency statements. Separately, Human Rights First reports that from Inauguration Day through October there were 1,701 removal flights to a record 77 countries and says removals have increased compared with the same period under the previous administration. Historically, DHS has relied primarily on charter carriers for removals; the purchase of dedicated 737s marks a shift toward an internal transport capability.
What To Watch
The similarity in livery raises questions about vendor selection and the symbolic implications of a government aircraft that echoes a former president’s private jet. Journalistic outlets including CNN and The Washington Post have reported on the aircraft purchase and the broader policy context; further official clarification could illuminate whether the design choice reflects a contractor’s influence, DHS preference, or coincidence.
Photos and flight-log data cited in this article were reported by news outlets and open-source tracking services; statements quoted are from DHS and other named sources.
