The State Department plans to issue a limited run of specially designed U.S. passports this summer with President Donald Trump’s portrait printed inside.
The redesign will be the default option for in-person renewals at the Washington Passport Agency for as long as there is availability. Renewals filed online or at other locations, however, will continue to use the current design.
According to a mockup of the new document, Trump’s likeness and signature will appear in gold on the inside front cover while a facing interior panel features imagery from John Trumbull’s Declaration of Independence. A separate mockup of the closed passport shows a gold ‘250’ emblem on the back cover.
The current passport by comparison carries a Percy Moran painting of Francis Scott Key after the bombardment of Fort McHenry inside the front cover with lines from the national anthem printed alongside it.
Expanding the anniversary collection
The redesigned passport is one of several federal items being released to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence in July. Tommy Pigott, a State Department spokesperson, said that while the documents will include new artwork, they’ll retain the same security features as the standard version.
The passport is the most consequential item in the anniversary lineup so far, as a U.S. passport is recognized worldwide and is generally valid for ten years. The release date has not been set beyond a summer rollout, and the State Department has not said how many passports will be printed.
The Department of the Interior, which oversees the national park system, introduced new America the Beautiful park passes last year. One of the designs places Trump alongside George Washington.
Other items in the anniversary series also feature the president. A commemorative coin for the 250th anniversary featuring Trump was approved last month by the Commission of Fine Arts, whose members the president appoints.
Two Washington institutions were also renamed last year. The Kennedy Center and the US Institute of Peace now both carry Trump’s name.
Ultimately, this anniversary document represents a rare aesthetic pivot in U.S. travel credentials that is likely to become a high-profile collector’s item. It’s also likely to be a controversial one.