President Trump flew to Michigan on a repainted C-32, the military 757 derivative that serves as Air Force Two. The plane's new livery and GM tour highlight Boeing's defense business and GM's industrial ties.
President Donald Trump flew to Michigan on Monday aboard a C-32 military jet that had been repainted in red, white, and blue. The plane, a derivative of the Boeing 757-200, normally serves as Air Force Two when carrying the vice president. Trump used the smaller jet because the destination airport, General Motors' Milford Proving Ground, could not accommodate the larger VC-25 Air Force One.
The C-32 measures 155 feet long and can fly 5,500 nautical miles without refueling. Its two engines each produce 41,700 pounds of static thrust. The new paint scheme includes an updated waving flag design on the tail, matching the VC-25B Bridge aircraft that Trump accepted as a gift from Qatari royals. After Trump returned from a NATO summit on July 8 on the old Air Force One instead of the VC-25B, prompting questions about the new jet's security, Trump told reporters the new plane would be removed from service for a month to be "maxed out."
Vice President JD Vance uses the C-32 for his frequent travel. Since taking office in January 2026, Vance has taken nine trips abroad, including visits to France, Germany, Greenland, Vatican City, Italy, Israel, and India. The plane features an advanced communications center, a conference room, a private stateroom, and a galley with two bathrooms and closets. Vance also used the plane to transport the body of Senator John Kirk, who was fatally shot on September 10 at Utah Valley University. The vice president helped carry Kirk's casket aboard, joined by the senator's widow, Erika Kirk, and Usha Vance.
The C-32 has a long history. The Air Force first used a Boeing VC-137A Stratoliner for Vice President Nelson Rockefeller in the 1970s. That plane retired in 2011 and was auctioned by the General Services Administration in 2013. The current C-32 fleet entered service during the George W. Bush administration. Vice President Al Gore worked on his acceptance speech for the 2000 Democratic National Convention aboard Air Force Two. Joe Biden traveled over one million miles on the plane during his time as vice president.
Trump's visit to General Motors' Milford Proving Ground highlights the automaker's ongoing role in defense and industrial policy. GM has a stock page with an Alpha Score of 60 out of 100, reflecting moderate fundamentals in the consumer discretionary sector. Boeing, which builds the 757 platform that the C-32 is based on, shows a stock page with an Alpha Score of 42 out of 100, mixed in the industrials sector. The new livery and Trump's use of the plane underscore the continued military demand for commercial aircraft derivatives, even as Boeing faces production and quality challenges.
The C-32's engines, each with 41,700 pounds of static thrust, are the same Pratt & Whitney PW2000 series used on the 757. The Air Force operates four C-32s, all based at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. The plane's 5,500-nautical-mile range allows nonstop flights from Washington to Europe or the Middle East.
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