The State Department's plan to feature President Donald Trump's portrait on a limited run of U.S. passports has drawn sharp criticism from across the political spectrum. The special edition passports, intended to commemorate the nation's 250th anniversary in July, will include Trump's face and a golden signature superimposed over the Declaration of Independence, according to reports from Fox News Digital and The Bulwark.
Official Statement and Design Details
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed the initiative to CBS News, stating that the passports would feature "customized artwork and enhanced imagery" while maintaining the same security features. The limited run is expected to include 25,000 passports, as reported by The Bulwark.
Criticism from Political Figures and Commentators
California Governor Gavin Newsom and Lincoln Project co-founder Rick Wilson posted photoshopped images replacing Trump's face with that of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Wilson wrote on X: "It's outrageous that Donald Trump is putting the face of the person he cares about the most in the new passports." Tim Miller of The Bulwark quipped that by the end of Trump's term, he might rename Washington D.C. to "Trump D.C."
Other notable critics included Representative Mike Levin, who called the design "a document literally written to get away from this exact behavior," and David Axelrod, who joked whether passport holders would also need to look like Trump. Economic concerns were also raised, with the House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats noting that many Americans cannot afford travel due to rising costs.
Historical Precedent and Public Reaction
No modern country, including the United States, has ever featured a sitting head of state's portrait on its passports, making this design unprecedented. Social media reactions ranged from disgust to satire, with users expressing embarrassment and frustration over the use of taxpayer funds for what they view as a vanity project.
