The US State Department said on Tuesday (local time) that it plans to issue a limited edition of commemorative US passports for America’s 250th anniversary with a portrait of US President Donald Trump – making him the first living president to appear in a travel document, the AP reported.
This is yet another example of Trump having his name and image on prominent items such as buildings, official documents, and other important honors.
Since returning to office last year, Trump has slapped his name and image on government institutions, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the United States Institute of Peace and the currency, in an unprecedented fashion.
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Here’s what the White House said
The proposal, which features a serious-looking image of Trump, was reportedly under review for several months before receiving final approval on Monday. Approximately 25,000 to 30,000 of these special passports will be available at the Passport Office in Washington, DC shortly before July 4th.
Separate proposals are also underway to place his signature on all newly issued U.S. paper currency, another first for a sitting president, and to place his portrait on a commemorative gold coin marking the nation’s founding.
The commemorative passport will be the default document for people who apply in person at the Washington office, although those who want a standard passport will be able to get one online or outside of Washington, officials said, as reported by the AP.
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“As the United States celebrates America’s 250th anniversary in July, the State Department is preparing to issue a limited number of specially designed U.S. passports to commemorate the historic occasion,” said State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott.
“These passports will feature modified artwork and enhanced images while maintaining the same security features that make the US passport the most secure document in the world,” he said, according to the AP.
Limited edition accessories
The limited edition passport is to feature a photo of Donald Trump placed above the gold imprint of his signature on the inside. The envelope will be redesigned with “United States of America” written across the top in bold gold lettering and “Passport” across the bottom, reversing the usual layout.
It will also feature a small gold laminated American flag on the back of the cover along with the number 250 surrounded by stars to mark the anniversary.
Bulwark reported on the commemorative passports earlier.
The only presidents featured on current U.S. passports are the two-page display of Mount Rushmore in South Dakota—George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.
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Other depictions include the Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Bell, and Independence Hall in Philadelphia, and scenes of the Great Plains, mountains, and islands. Current passports also include quotes from Martin Luther King Jr. and also Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and Dwight Eisenhower.
Adding Trump’s picture and signature to the passport book is the latest step his aides have taken to increase the president’s visibility, including adding his name to the US Institute of Peace building and the Kennedy Center.
Trump also waved his plans for a new White House ballroom and a massive arch to be built at one of Washington’s entrances from Virginia.
President’s photo in passports
In most countries that include artwork in passports, the designs usually focus on historical scenes or natural landmarks.
Even North Korea—known for prominently displaying its leader Kim Jong-un in official pictures—doesn’t list him on its passport; instead, it highlights Mount Paektu, a culturally significant natural monument.
In contrast, current US passports feature images associated with national history and achievements such as the moon landing and landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty.
Last month, the Treasury Department also said Trump’s signature would soon begin appearing on the dollar bill, another first.
What did the legislators say?
Lawmakers from the rival Democratic Party criticized Secretary of State Marco Rubio for the passport initiative.
“Secretary Rubio should spend more time persuading his boss to end his war in Iran and less time wasting American tax dollars on Trump’s vanity,” Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee wrote on X.
The United Kingdom and other Commonwealth nations have an image of King Charles III on their currency, reflecting his role as head of state rather than an active political leader.
The monarch met Donald Trump on Tuesday during a state visit to Washington.
The data shows that only about half of Americans have valid passports, fewer than in many other Western countries, and polls suggest that residents of states that supported Trump are less likely to travel abroad.
(With input from agencies)
