Trump's Face on Special Passports Sparks Monarchy Criticism for America's 250th Birthday
A special edition U.S. passport featuring President Donald Trump’s portrait will be released on July 6 to mark America’s 250th birthday, with critics calling the move "more befitting a monarchy."
The Trump administration has unveiled a limited-edition "patriot passport" to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence, featuring a watermark of Trump’s face on the document [183968][184104]. The commemorative passports, which are valid for international travel, can only be obtained through in-person applications at passport agencies or acceptance facilities; no online or mail-in requests will be accepted [183852][184794].
On Truth Social, the president called it “The U.S.A.’s New Passport, which says, ‘Welcome, but be good!’” [184104]. Democrats immediately criticized the design, arguing that placing Trump’s portrait on a national document alongside a gold coin bearing his image is “more befitting a monarchy” [184104]. Officials have not disclosed the number of copies printed or the price of the special edition [183968].
The move is the latest step in Trump’s push to brand the U.S. government with his name and image, as the nation prepares to mark its semiquincentennial—the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence [184104]. Meanwhile, Washington, D.C., will host its largest fireworks display in history on July 4th at the National Mall, with organizers promising a longer and more elaborate show than previous years [184004].