The US State Department announced Tuesday that it will produce a limited number of commemorative passports featuring President Donald Trump.
What do we know about the new US passport?
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement that the passports will be issued in July as part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence. The statement did not mention whether the passport would feature Trump’s image.
However, a rendering provided by the State Department featured Trump’s portrait contrasted with the image of the 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence on a page inside the passport.
It was not clear whether passport applicants could opt out of the special edition.
Pigott said, “These passports will feature customized artwork and enhanced imagery while maintaining the same security features that make U.S. passports the most secure documents in the world.”
Meanwhile, the AFP news agency quoted an unnamed State Department official as saying that the Trump-themed passports would be available only in Washington “as long as there is availability” and at no additional cost.
Trump’s personal stamp on American institutions
It is the latest example of the Trump administration adding the president’s name or likeness to official property.
Earlier, the US Mint had announced plans for a commemorative gold coin bearing Trump’s image to mark the anniversary of the country’s founding, and the Treasury Department said the paper currency would bear Trump’s signature, making it the first time that a sitting president has signed US money.
There are very few modern examples of photographs of sitting leaders appearing on passports, leave alone democracy. Most nations like to have fantasies related to their history or nature.
Current US passports depict many scenes from the country’s history, including the Statue of Liberty and the moon landing.
Edited by: Dmytro Lyubenko