In an unprecedented and controversial move, President Donald Trump’s image is set to appear on a specially designed American passport to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence, which falls in July this year.
These commemorative passports will feature his portrait alongside the Declaration of Independence, with a gold-embossed presidential signature on the inside pages. The special passports will be issued in limited numbers as part of the broader “America250” celebrations.
This development is historically significant, as it marks the first time a living U.S. president’s image has appeared in a passport design, even in a commemorative format.
The U.S. Treasury Department has also announced that President Trump’s signature will appear on newly issued dollar bills, beginning with high-denomination notes. This represents a major break from long-standing tradition: since the introduction of federally issued paper currency in 1861, U.S. banknotes have carried only the signatures of the Treasury Secretary and Treasurer, not the sitting president.
It is the first time in over 165 years that a sitting president’s signature will be printed on U.S. currency. Together, these measures—Trump’s image on commemorative passports and his signature on U.S. currency—represent a significant departure from established American norms.
Trump’s image will appear alongside the Declaration of Independence and opposite an image of the Founding Fathers.
The limited-edition documents, billed as a commemoration of the U.S.’s 250th anniversary of independence, will display Trump’s photograph on the inside cover, surrounded by the text of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. flag, with his signature rendered in gold. A separate page will feature the famous painting of the Founding Fathers signing the document.
For comparison, Queen Elizabeth II holds the record for appearing on the most currencies, with her portrait featured on over 30 currencies during her reign, including those of the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
While monarchs’ portraits are commonly printed on currencies in many nations, leaders such as George Washington, Mahatma Gandhi, and Mao Zedong have also appeared on banknotes in their respective countries.
The themed passports will only be available through in-person appointments in Washington, subject to availability. Officials said the passports would be issued at no additional cost.
It was not immediately clear whether applicants could opt out of the Trump image, although most Americans apply for passports through local post offices, which are unlikely to provide the special edition.
