The State Department said Tuesday it is preparing a limited release of commemorative U.S. passports marking the nation’s 250th anniversary that will feature an image of President Donald Trump, making him the first living president depicted in the travel document.
The concept, including a rendering of Trump’s likeness, had been under consideration for months and was approved late Monday. Between 25,000 and 30,000 of the passports will be available to applicants at the Washington passport office shortly before July 4.
The move is the latest instance of Trump’s name and image appearing on highly visible public items. Efforts are also underway to place his signature on all new U.S. paper currency, which would be a first for a sitting president, and to include his image on a gold commemorative coin marking the country’s founding.
The commemorative passport will be the default option for in-person applicants in Washington, though those seeking a standard passport may apply online or at other locations, officials said.
“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 document in the world,” he said.
The special passport will include Trump’s image above a gold imprint of his signature on an interior page. The cover will display “United States of America” in bold gold lettering at the top and “Passport” at the bottom, reversing the standard layout.
A small gold American flag, with the number 250 encircled by stars, will appear at the bottom of the back cover.
The Bulwark first reported on the commemorative passports.
Current U.S. passports feature a double-page depiction of Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, including Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Other imagery includes the Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall in Philadelphia, and scenes of the Great Plains, mountains and islands.
They also include quotations from Martin Luther King Jr. and Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and Dwight Eisenhower.
The addition of Trump’s image and signature is the latest step by his aides to increase his visibility. Other efforts include adding his name to the U.S. Institute of Peacebuilding and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Trump has also drawn attention for plans to build a new White House ballroom and a large arch at one of the entrances to Washington from Virginia.