The United States will soon issue a limited number of special passports featuring an image of President Donald Trump, officials confirmed on Tuesday, marking an unprecedented move in modern American history.
The State Department said the commemorative passports are being released to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. One design includes a stern portrait of Trump placed over the 1776 Declaration, with his signature printed in gold. A second version features artwork depicting the Founding Fathers.
According to department officials, the limited-edition passports will be available only through in-person appointments in Washington and will be issued “for as long as there is availability.” The special documents will come at no additional cost to applicants.
The move has drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers, who accused the administration of politicising a traditionally non-partisan federal document. They argued that the initiative reflects an inappropriate use of public resources and personal branding within government institutions.
“Secretary Rubio should spend more time convincing his boss to end his war of choice in Iran, and less on wasting American tax dollars indulging Trump’s vanity,” said members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on social media.
Historically, US passports have featured national symbols and historical imagery, such as the Moon landing and the Statue of Liberty, rather than living political figures. Analysts note that most democratic countries avoid placing sitting leaders on official travel documents.
The United States has joined a small number of nations experimenting with commemorative passport designs, but critics say the inclusion of a current president is without precedent among Western democracies.
The initiative comes amid a broader pattern of the Trump administration incorporating the president’s name and image into federal institutions. Recent examples include branding changes at government buildings and the addition of Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Officials have also confirmed that Trump’s signature will appear on US currency in future updates.
The announcement adds to ongoing political debate in Washington over the use of federal symbolism and the growing personalisation of state institutions during Trump’s presidency.