Secretary of State Marco Rubio has previewed a new-look US passport for 2028 that appears to feature President Donald Trump's likeness inside the front page before it traverses 250 years of American history.
Passport design and availability
The gold-emblazoned document was presented as part of an America.gov event, which also unveiled an AI website aimed at making government services like obtaining a passport easier to access. The 2028 passport will be the first that can be obtained completely online using the new America.gov website.
However, some commercial passport services believe Trump's image will be a mandatory inclusion. David Alwadish, founder and CEO of ItsEasy.com, which provides passport and visa services, said Trump's image “appears to be non-negotiable”.
Reactions and future outlook
Mr Alwadish said: “My gut feeling is that the party in power in the next presidential term will determine whether this new Trump photo is short-lived or limited edition.” He also said those who explicitly do not want the president's image on their passport “probably has a narrow window to apply”.
A State Department spokesperson declined to confirm the redesigned passport would include the president's image but said: “President Trump's image is featured on the so-called Patriot Passport commemorating America's 250th anniversary, available while supplies last.”
Rubio's presentation caused a stir online, with some likening its grandeur to product launches from tech executives. The presentation featured typical Trumpian themes: a focus on gold, AI-generated videos spanning American history and, according to Rubio, “the most beautiful government checkout I've ever seen”.
