White House unveils new images of US ‘patriot passports’ for America’s 250th
The White House unveiled new images of a limited-edition commemorative passport watermarked with President Trump's portrait to mark America's 250th anniversary. The State Department said the passport was created to commemorate the historic occasion of America's 250th anniversary and will be issued at the Washington Passport Agency in Washington, DC, starting on July 6, 2026, while supplies last.
The finished passport features different artwork from what was previously announced. A three-quarter-length portrait of the president leaning over the Resolute desk with balled fists has replaced the earlier headshot. The photograph was taken by White House photographer Daniel Torok and also appears in the Smithsonian America's Presidents exhibition.
Trump's portrait is surrounded by text from the Declaration of Independence, with his signature and "United States of America" written underneath. The passport comes with a Freedom 250 gold flag on the back cover. His signature appears in black, while "250" is written in gold, changing earlier plans where his signature was in gold and "250" did not appear.
The commemorative passport has sparked controversy. Democratic senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Ron Wyden of Oregon have called on the administration to halt production of a commemorative 250th anniversary coin bearing the same image of the president with the words "FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT," a reference to his chant after an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania almost two years ago.
The senators raised concerns that gold used by the US Mint came from countries where gold is mined illegally. "At the very least the mint should ensure that a coin intended to honor the nation's 250th anniversary is not made of gold linked to exploitation and criminal activity," the senators said, adding that the coin is "more befitting a monarchy than a democracy."
California Governor Gavin Newsom mocked the Trump passport plan when it was first proposed.