The State Department announced on Tuesday that it is preparing a limited release of commemorative U.S. passports to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, featuring a picture of President Donald Trump. This would mark the first time a living president has been featured on the travel document.
Design and Availability
The concept for the special passport, including a rendering of Trump’s stern-looking visage, had been under consideration for months before being approved late Monday. Initially, the passports will be available only to applicants at the Washington, D.C., passport office and solely upon request. Officials confirmed that applicants who prefer not to receive the commemorative version can opt for a standard passport instead.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott stated, “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. These passports will feature customized artwork and enhanced imagery while maintaining the same security features that make the U.S. passport the most secure document in the world.”
Design Details
Apart from adding Trump’s picture to an interior page, the passport’s cover will see a reversal of the standard design: “United States of America” in bold gold print at the top and “Passport” at the bottom. Additionally, a small gold laminate American flag, with the number 250 encircled by stars, will appear on the bottom of the back cover.
The Bulwark first reported on the commemorative passports.
Historical Context
Currently, the only presidents featured in U.S. passports are those depicted on Mount Rushmore in South Dakota: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Other images include the Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall in Philadelphia, and scenes of the Great Plains, mountains, and islands. Current passports also contain quotations from Martin Luther King Jr. and Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Dwight Eisenhower.
