Donald Trump’s efforts to brand the US government with his name and image advanced on Friday when the White House unveiled new images of a passport watermarked with his portrait to mark America’s 250th.
The White House called it simply the “patriot passport”, while on Truth Social Trump introduced it as “The U.S.A.’s New Passport, which says, “Welcome, but be good!”.
The state department says the limited-edition commemorative US passport was created “to commemorate the historic occasion of America’s 250th anniversary and will be issued at the Washington Passport Agency in Washington, DC starting on July 6, 2026, while supplies last”.
The state department said it would issue a commemorative passport in April, but the finished item features different artwork.
The previous headshot of the president, looking stern, had been replaced with a three-quarter-length portrait leaning over the Resolute Desk with balled fists by White House photographer Daniel Torok, with Trump looking sterner. The photo also hangs in the Smithsonian “America’s Presidents” exhibition.
Trump’s portrait is surrounded by text from the declaration ofindependence, with his signature and “United States of America” written underneath.
The facing page shows an image of the founding fathers signing the declaration of independence that appears to be based on a painting by John Trumbull currently on display at the Yale University Art Gallery.
Beyond his gaze, at least one of Trump’s signature decorative flourishes appears on the passport – it comes with a “Freedom 250” gold flag on the back cover. Previously Trump’s signature was in gold, and “250” did not appear. Now, his signature in black and “250″ written in gold.
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The plans for Trump coins and the passport have been criticized by Democrats.
Earlier this month, Democratic lawmakers called on the administration to halt production of a commemorative 250th anniversary solid-gold coin that would bear the same image of the president as on the new passport and and the words “FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT” – a reference to his chant after an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, almost two years ago.
Democratic senators Elizabeth Warren, of Massachusetts, and Ron Wyden, of Oregon, said the coin project should be dropped following reports that some gold used by the US Mint came from countries where gold is mined illegally.
“At the very least, the Mint should ensure that a coin intended to honor the nation’s 250th anniversary is not made of gold linked to exploitation and criminal activity,” the senators said, adding that the coin “is more befitting a monarchy than a democracy”.
Gavin Newsom, the California governor, mocked the Trump passport plan when it was first mooted with a mock-up of a gold-hued driver’s license featuring his own face.