Donald Trump has unveiled the interior design of a new limited-edition US passport that includes his own image and signature, marking another self-referential gesture during the country's 250th anniversary celebrations. The US State Department had previously announced it would issue a special passport version featuring the President to commemorate the milestone this year. Trump finally shared the design on his Truth Social platform on Friday, along with a warning to travelers.
In the post, Trump wrote: "The USA’s New Passport, which says, 'Welcome, but be good!' President DJT." It remains unclear where exactly the phrase "but be good" appears in the passport. The President shared two sample pages: one shows him standing sternly behind his Oval Office desk, with text from the original Declaration of Independence in the background and his signature below. The other page features John Trumbull's painting "The Declaration of Independence" with the words "United States of America 250" beneath it.
Design Changes and Availability
An earlier sample of the passport had depicted Trump with a US flag backdrop instead of the Declaration of Independence. The limited-edition passport was first announced in April as part of the 250th anniversary celebrations, described as "a limited-edition U.S. passport to commemorate the historic occasion of America's 250th anniversary" featuring "custom artwork and enhanced images on the front, back, and inside covers." According to the State Department, the passport will be available to any American citizen who applies during the rollout, as well as at the Washington Passport Agency, while supplies last.
Part of a Series of Unconventional Celebrations
The passport is just one element of Trump's distinctive approach to the 250th anniversary. Earlier this month, a UFC fight was held on the White House South Lawn, which also served as Trump's 80th birthday celebration. The event, billed as a "gift to the American people," required viewers to have a Paramount+ subscription to watch. Approximately 4,300 guests attended, including British boxer Tyson Fury and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
The festivities are set to continue with an Indycar Grand Prix through the streets of Washington in August, and Trump has promised the world's largest fireworks display for the Fourth of July.
