The US State Department has announced the release of a limited-imprint 'patriot passport' featuring a portrait of President Donald Trump.
According to a report from France 24, the special edition documents are intended to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence this July 4.
The passports, which will be available exclusively in Washington, D.C., will feature Trump's image on the inside cover. The design includes the text of the Declaration of Independence and the US flag, finished with a gold-rendered signature of the president underneath.
This move marks the first time a sitting US president will have their image included in domestic travel documents. Current US passports typically feature historical landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty or the Moon Landing.
Political backlash
The announcement has drawn sharp criticism from US lawmakers and political figures. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York accused the president of being "too busy trying to slap his face on everything to lower costs for working people or end his war in Iran," France 24 reported.
Representative Mike Levin of California described the initiative as "not patriotism, it is vanity." Other lawmakers have characterized the move as an act of "megalomania."
California Governor Gavin Newsom also targeted the administration. His press office released a parody of a California driver's license featuring Newsom's own face, along with an AI-generated passport design depicting Trump alongside Jeffrey Epstein.
Public reaction has been similarly critical, with some citizens comparing the move to the practices of enough dictators. Critics noted that even the passports of North Korea do not feature the portrait of Kim Jong-il.
The passport initiative is the latest in a series of efforts by the Trump administration to include the president's likeness on government property. Since returning to office in January, banners featuring Trump have appeared on several government buildings, and the Kennedy Center and US Institute for Peace have been renamed to feature his name.
Additionally, the US Treasury recently announced that Trump's signature will appear on paper currency, and plans for 'Trump-class' battleships have been announced, according to the report.
