A United States Air Force plane resembling Air Force One landed at Gainesville Regional Airport on the afternoon of Aug. 22.
The Boeing C-32, emblazoned with “United States of America” on its side, also features a paint scheme similar to the larger Boeing 747-200 most people associate with Air Force One. President Donald Trump, however, is now sometimes using a Qatari-gifted VC-25B Bridge aircraft that is painted red, white, dark blue and gold.
According to a Joint Base Andrews fact sheet on the C-32, the aircraft is used to transport some of the nation’s top leaders around the world, including Cabinet members, the vice president, the first lady and members of Congress.
The president also flies on the C-32 when traveling to smaller domestic or international airports.
It’s unclear who was aboard the aircraft. However, President Trump’s public schedule for Aug. 22 included no stops in Gainesville.
The Sun has reached out to Gainesville Regional Airport for comment.
Some on social media have speculated that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio may have been on the plane. Rubio, a University of Florida alum, has a son, Anthony Rubio, who is a running back on the Florida Gators football team.
The Gators hosted a team scrimmage at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on UF’s campus on Aug. 22. It’s unclear whether Marco Rubio attended. Anthony Rubio, a redshirt junior, has seen limited game action during his time at Florida.
In 2024, Anthony Rubio rushed six times for 32 yards and a touchdown against Tulane in the Gasparilla Bowl. And in 2025, Rubio played 10 snaps against Long Island University and rushed for 27 yards. Marco Rubio attended the LIU game in Gainesville on Aug. 30, 2025.
Has Air Force One ever landed at GNV?
In September 2023, then-President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden and FEMA Director Deanne Criswell landed in Gainesville before traveling by helicopter to Live Oak to survey damage caused by Hurricane Idalia.
In October 2004, President George W. Bush made a campaign stop in Gainesville. The Sun reported that thousands of people from as far away as Mississippi descended on the city to catch a glimpse of the commander in chief. According to previous Sun reporting, Bush was the first sitting president to visit Gainesville since Grover Cleveland, ending a 116-year gap between presidential visits.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Air Force jet with Air Force One look touches down at Gainesville airport
Reporting by Cleveland Tinker and Alan Festo, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Cleveland Tinker and Alan Festo, Gainesville Sun | USA TODAY Network
