State Department unveils limited-edition "patriot passport" bearing President Trump's likeness
Critics from lawmakers to the public have condemned the move as an act of vanity, noting that no other sitting president in a democracy has ever appeared on citizens' travel documents.
The US State Department has announced the release of a limited-edition "patriot passport" to coincide with the United States' 250th birthday. This special issue features President Donald Trump's portrait on the inside cover, surrounded by text from the Declaration of Independence and the US flag, with his signature rendered in gold underneath. The passports are scheduled to be issued exclusively in Washington.
This initiative represents a significant shift in the design of American travel documents. Historically, US passports have depicted historical scenes or famous national symbols, such as the Moon Landing or the Statue of Liberty. Under this new design, President Trump would become the first sitting president to have his image inside citizens' travel documents, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from US lawmakers and members of the public.
The reaction to the announcement has been immediate and severe. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York described the decision as an example of the President being too busy trying to place his image on everything rather than focusing on lowering costs for working people or ending his war in Iran. Representative Mike Levin of California characterised the move as vanity rather than patriotism, while multiple lawmakers have labelled the action megalomania.
Governor Gavin Newsom of California responded with a parody driving licence and an AI-generated passport design featuring President Trump and disgraced sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Public sentiment has also turned hostile, with comparisons drawn to dictators such as Castro, Peron, Mussolini, and Hitler. Critics noted that even North Korean passports do not feature Kim Jong-il, highlighting the rarity of such a practice in the world.
Since returning to office in January, President Trump's name, likeness, and signature have appeared on various US government buildings and documents. This includes the renaming of the Kennedy Center and the US Institute for Peace. The US Treasury recently announced that Trump's signature would appear on paper currency, and Trump-class battleships have also been announced, continuing a trend of branding government assets with the President's identity.
It remains unclear whether American citizens will have the option to opt out of receiving this special edition passport. The launch is expected to coincide with the 250th anniversary of American Independence on the Fourth of July, though the specific timeline for distribution beyond the Washington launch event has not been detailed in the source material.
