In a striking revelation that underscores the complex interplay of politics and policy, public records and insider accounts reveal that the Boeing 737, famously known as “Trump Force Two” during the 2024 presidential campaign, has transitioned from a symbol of Vice President JD Vance’s populist rhetoric to a workhorse in the Trump administration’s aggressive deportation agenda.
This aircraft, emblazoned with the red, white, and blue livery that carried Vance to rally crowds nationwide, is now ferrying migrants to Central America under the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Air program, raising questions about the blurred lines between campaign optics and government operations.
A Plane with a Past
The Boeing 737, tail number N917XA, became a fixture of the 2024 Trump-Vance campaign, crisscrossing the country to promote a platform centered on stringent immigration enforcement.
Dubbed “Trump Force Two,” the plane was more than a mode of transport—it was a fundraising tool, with the campaign offering rides to high-dollar donors eager to align with the MAGA movement.
According to aviation logs obtained through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, this same aircraft has been chartered over 15 times in 2025 by ICE to deport migrants to countries including Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.
The plane’s dual role is not entirely new.
Data from the University of Washington’s Center for Human Rights shows that in 2018, during President Trump’s first term, the same aircraft was used for at least three deportation flights, transporting approximately 360 migrants to Central America, and a fourth flight to transfer 144 migrants between U.S. detention centers.
This history, however, was not disclosed during the 2024 campaign, when the plane symbolized Vance’s hardline stance on immigration, including his calls to end programs like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and mass parole for legal immigrants.
The Deportation Push Intensifies
The Trump-Vance ticket rode to victory in 2024 on a promise of the “largest deportation push in American history.”
Since taking office, the administration has expanded deportation targets, streamlined removal processes, and tightened rules for legal immigrants, drawing both praise and condemnation.
The use of the campaign plane for these missions has sparked particular controversy, with critics arguing it symbolizes the administration’s unapologetic fusion of political branding with policy enforcement.
“This plane was a stage for anti-immigrant rhetoric during the campaign, and now it’s literally carrying out the deportations Vance championed,” said Maria Torres, an immigration advocate with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
“It’s a stark reminder of how campaign promises translate into real-world consequences.”
Public aviation records confirm the plane’s frequent use in 2025 for ICE Air operations, with flights departing from hubs like San Antonio, Texas, and landing in Central American capitals.
One such flight on March 15, 2025, carried over 200 migrants to El Salvador, including alleged gang members, despite a federal judge’s order to halt certain deportations under an obscure wartime law.
The administration’s defiance of the order, as reported by The New York Times, has fueled legal challenges and accusations of overreach.
Ethical and Legal Questions
The plane’s transformation from campaign prop to deportation vehicle has raised ethical and legal concerns.
Immigration lawyers argue that the administration’s use of a high-profile campaign asset for deportations could intimidate communities and signal a politicization of federal operations.
“Using a plane tied to Vance’s campaign sends a message: this isn’t just policy, it’s personal,” said Javier Ortiz, a legal analyst with the Center for Immigration Studies.
Moreover, the plane’s history of mechanical issues adds another layer of scrutiny.
In August 2024, the 22-year-old Boeing 737 made an emergency landing in Milwaukee due to a door seal malfunction, raising questions about its reliability for sensitive ICE missions.
Sources within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the aircraft has since passed rigorous inspections, but advocates worry about the safety of deportees, who are often shackled during flights.
Vance’s Response and Administration Defiance
Vice President Vance has not directly addressed the plane’s dual use, but in a recent interview with The New York Times in Rome, he defended the administration’s deportation policies, arguing that legal obstacles, often driven by “left-wing NGOs,” have complicated enforcement efforts.
“We inherited a system where courts and activists make it nearly impossible to deport illegal aliens,” Vance said, pointing to cases like that of an MS-13 gang member whose deportation to El Salvador was challenged due to a 2019 withholding order.
The administration’s legal battles have intensified, particularly after a March 2025 court hearing where a Justice Department lawyer argued that the White House did not defy a federal judge’s order to halt certain deportation flights.
Critics, including Judge James E. Boasberg, have expressed skepticism, noting that one plane took off after the order was issued.
A Symbol of a Polarized Era
The story of “Trump Force Two” encapsulates the polarizing immigration debate under the Trump administration.
For supporters, the plane’s new role is a fulfillment of campaign promises to prioritize American citizens and secure borders.
For opponents, it represents a chilling escalation of anti-immigrant policies, with a campaign relic now serving as a tool of enforcement.
As the administration pushes forward with its deportation agenda, the Boeing 737 remains a potent symbol—once a beacon of political ambition, now a vessel for one of the most contentious policies of our time.
With legal challenges mounting and public scrutiny intensifying, the plane’s journey from rally circuit to deportation route is far from over.
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