(Image source from: rfi.fr)
Donald Trump's image will soon be seen on some US passports, officials mentioned on Tuesday, breaking another tradition as the president seeks to leave his mark on government organizations. The State Department, after reports from Fox News and The Bulwark, confirmed that it will provide a special edition passport to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence this year. The reports included two designs that will be featured inside the passports, one showing Trump's official photo on top of the Declaration of Independence, with his name -- in gold -- beneath it. The second design displayed a famous painting of the Founding Fathers of the US. "As the United States marks its 250th anniversary in July, the State Department is gearing up to launch a limited amount of specially crafted US passports to honor this important milestone," said State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott on X, linking to the Fox News article. Another official from the State Department, who chose to remain anonymous, mentioned that the Trump-themed passports would only be sold in Washington "as long as they last" and at no extra charge.
It was not clear right away if those applying for passports could say no to the special edition. There are very few recent examples around the globe, especially in democracies, of current leaders’ images being used in passports, as most countries prefer to showcase historical scenes or nature. Current US passports depict various moments from the nation’s past such as the Moon landing and landmarks like the Statue of Liberty. Since returning to office last year, Trump has put his name and picture on government institutions in a way that has never been done before. Numerous government buildings in Washington have displayed banners of the president, and officials have added his name to both the Kennedy Center and the now-closed US Institute of Peace. Last month, the Treasury Department also announced that Trump's signature would soon be featured on the dollar bill, marking yet another first. In contrast, Britain and other Commonwealth nations have images of King Charles III on their money, who serves as head of state but does not engage in politics directly. The king met with Trump on Tuesday during a state visit to Washington.
