Concerns Over Trump’s Image on U.S. Passports
A group of Democratic senators has raised concerns about the potential inclusion of President Donald Trump’s image on U.S. passports as part of the 250th anniversary celebrations of the nation’s founding. The senators, led by Senator Jeff Merkley from Oregon, have called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to halt the plan, expressing deep reservations about the move.
“We write to express our deep concern regarding the State Department’s reported plans to issue a limited number of specially designed U.S. passports featuring a picture of President Trump to commemorate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding,” the letter stated. “The U.S. passport has never—and should not now—feature an image of a sitting U.S. president.”
The senators argue that this decision could have anti-democratic implications. They added, “To our knowledge, no country places the portrait of a sitting leader in its passport. Even the most authoritarian and autocratic governments have avoided equating national identity to the sitting president in such a way.”
The Plan for Special Edition Passports
Last month, the State Department announced plans to release special, limited-edition passports as part of the independence celebrations. A “sneak peek” inside the new passport revealed the president’s face laid over the Declaration of Independence, with a gold version of Trump’s signature above it.
The Independent has contacted the State Department for further comment on the matter. However, the administration has been actively promoting the presence of Trump’s image on various official documents, currency, and landmarks.
Expanding Trump’s Presence in Official Documents
In March, the Treasury Department announced that the president’s signature would appear on U.S. bills alongside that of the Treasury Secretary, marking a first for a sitting president. There are also plans to feature Trump’s face on a commemorative gold coin. However, according to U.S. Mint filings obtained by Newsweek, the design may not be ready in time for the July 4, 2026, semiquincentennial.
Additionally, America the Beautiful national park passes have begun featuring the president’s face as part of the 250th anniversary celebrations. Trump’s allies have also pushed for his face to be added to Mount Rushmore, the renaming of Washington Dulles airport after him, and the declaration of his birthday as a national holiday.
Controversial Use of Trump’s Image
The Trump administration itself has placed giant banners featuring Trump’s face on agency buildings in Washington. Critics have pointed out that one such banner on the Justice Department’s headquarters resembled something from the dictatorship ruling North Korea.
The president has also advocated for adding his name more permanently to Washington landmarks, most notably the Kennedy Center. In his home state of Florida, lawmakers voted to change the name of the Palm Beach airport in honor of Trump.
