WASHINGTON — Federal officials announced Tuesday they will launch a special edition of U.S. passports featuring President Donald Trump’s photograph to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration, making him the first sitting president to appear in the official travel documents.
The commemorative passport design, which includes Trump’s portrait, underwent months of review before receiving final authorization on Monday evening. Initially, these special passports will only be distributed through the Washington D.C. passport facility and must be specifically requested by applicants. Citizens who prefer the traditional design can still obtain standard passports, according to government officials.
“As the United States celebrates America’s 250th anniversary in July, the State Department is preparing to release a limited number of specially designed U.S. passports to commemorate this historic occasion,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said. “These passports will feature customized artwork and enhanced imagery while maintaining the same security features that make the U.S. passport the most secure documents in the world.”
The anniversary edition will include Trump’s photograph on an internal page, while the cover design will be modified to display “United States of America” prominently in gold lettering at the top and “Passport” at the bottom — opposite from the current layout. A gold-foiled American flag bearing the number 250 surrounded by stars will appear on the back cover.
Currently, the only presidential figures shown in standard U.S. passports appear in a two-page spread depicting Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, featuring George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.
Regular passport pages showcase various American landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall in Philadelphia, along with images of the Great Plains, mountain ranges and coastal areas. Standard passports also include quotes from civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and former Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and Dwight Eisenhower.
