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The new passport design is a bold step in the president’s efforts to associate public assets with his identity.
For the first time in U.S. history, passports will display a portrait of the current president.
Tommy Pigott, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, announced to Hyperallergic that a “limited number” of passports featuring President Trump’s image and signature will be issued to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary later this year.
This initiative marks a significant step in the president’s efforts to imprint his name and image on public resources. Previously, “Donald J. Trump” was added to the exterior of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and plans were announced for his signature to appear on U.S. currency.
The new passport design includes an unsmiling image of Trump inside the cover, layered over text from the Declaration of Independence.
The portrait closely resembles Trump’s official photo, reportedly captured by Chief White House Photographer Daniel Torok.
“These passports will feature customized artwork and enhanced imagery while maintaining the security features that make the U.S. Passport the most secure document in the world,” Pigott noted.
The passport will be available exclusively at the Washington Passport Agency as the default design, with all U.S. citizens eligible to obtain one, according to the State Department. Current passports will still be issued at other locations.
The timeline for releasing the new design and the exact quantity available remain unspecified.
Including a president’s portrait in U.S. passports is not entirely new, although the last instance was over a century ago. Current passports feature Mount Rushmore, showcasing the carved busts of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.
Historically, leaders like Cleopatra used currency to distribute their likenesses, making official portraits accessible to the public.
The White House and State Department did not provide information on the artists or designers involved in creating the new passport design.
White House spokesperson Olivia Wales stated to Hyperallergic that “President Trump continues to proudly lead a renewal of national pride and patriotism during our historic semiquincentennial celebration.”
This initiative ties into the administration’s ongoing references to the semiquincentennial in its plans to revise content at the Smithsonian Institution and establish a unique selection process for the U.S. Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale.
