U.S. to Issue Commemorative Passports Featuring Trump’s Photo for 250th Independence Anniversary
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
The U.S. Department of State announced Tuesday that it is preparing a limited edition of commemorative passports to celebrate the country’s 250th Independence anniversary. These passports will feature an image of President Donald Trump, making him the first living president to appear on the travel document. The special passport design, including an illustration of Trump with a stern expression, underwent months of consideration before being approved late Monday. Between 25,000 and 30,000 of these passports will be available shortly before July 4th at the Washington, D.C. passport office. This initiative is part of a broader trend of incorporating Trump’s name and image into high-profile tributes, including proposals to feature his signature on new U.S. paper currency and his image on a commemorative gold coin marking the nation’s founding. The commemorative passport will be the default option for applicants visiting the Washington office in person, while standard passports will remain available online or at other locations. "To celebrate the United States commemorating its 250th Independence anniversary in July, the Department of State is preparing to issue a limited number of U.S. passports with a special design to mark this historic occasion," said Tommy Pigott, spokesperson for the Department of State. The limited-edition passport will include Trump’s photo over a gold seal of his signature on an interior page, while the cover will feature the words "United States of America" in gold at the top and "Passport" at the bottom, reversing the standard design. Additionally, the back cover will display a small gold plate with the U.S. flag and the number 250 surrounded by stars. The Bulwark previously reported on the commemorative passports. Currently, the only presidents featured in U.S. passports are depicted in a two-page illustration of Mount Rushmore: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Other representations include the Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Bell, and Independence Hall in Philadelphia, along with scenes of the Great Plains, mountains, and islands. Current passports also include quotes from Martin Luther King Jr. and presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Dwight Eisenhower. The addition of Trump’s photo and signature to the passport booklet is the latest move by his advisors to enhance the president’s visibility, including naming the U.S. Institute of Peace building and the Kennedy Center’s performing arts venue after him. Trump has also sparked controversy with plans for a new White House ballroom and a massive arch to be built at one of Washington’s entrances from Virginia.