State Department to Issue Commemorative Passports Glorifying Trump for America's 250th Anniversary
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The U.S. State Department is set to release limited-edition passports emblazoned with President Donald Trump's image, a move that critics see as an unprecedented elevation of a polarizing figure during the nation's 250th anniversary.
In a controversial move, the U.S. State Department has announced plans to issue a limited edition of commemorative passports featuring President Donald Trump's image, marking the first time a sitting president's likeness will appear in this official travel document. This initiative, part of America's 250th anniversary celebrations, is being criticized as an attempt to further entrench Trump's personality cult within national symbols.
Between 25,000 and 30,000 of these special passports will be distributed to applicants at the Washington, D.C., passport office starting shortly before July 4. The design includes a prominent portrait of Trump, his gold-embossed signature, and a cover that reverses the traditional layout, all of which serve to elevate the current president above the nation's history. The back cover features a gold laminate American flag and the number 250 encircled by stars, further emphasizing the administration's focus on branding.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott claimed, "As the United States celebrates America's 250th anniversary in July, the State Department is preparing to release a limited number of specially designed U.S. passports to commemorate this historic occasion." He asserted that these passports will feature customized artwork and enhanced imagery, though critics argue that the real purpose is to glorify Trump, not the nation, even as security features remain unchanged.
Applicants visiting the Washington office in person will be automatically issued the commemorative passport, while those who prefer the standard version must go out of their way to apply online or at other offices—a move some see as coercive.
This decision is part of a broader campaign to embed Trump's image into national symbols during the semiquincentennial. Plans are also underway to place his likeness on a gold commemorative coin and to add his signature to new U.S. paper currency, both of which break with long-standing traditions and raise concerns about the politicization of national iconography.
Historically, U.S. passports have featured figures such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln on Mount Rushmore, along with the Statue of Liberty and the Liberty Bell. The addition of Trump's image represents a stark and troubling departure from these inclusive, unifying symbols.