State Department Advances Trump Portrait Passport Design Ahead of U.S. Semiquincentennial

The U.S. State Department is nearing finalization of a controversial redesign of the American passport, which will feature a portrait of President Donald Trump, according to sources with direct knowledge of the project.

The redesign is part of broader celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, known as the Semiquincentennial. It follows similar initiatives, including the Treasury Department’s plans to issue a $1 coin featuring Trump’s image for general circulation and a large commemorative gold coin, as well as the National Park Service’s decision to emblazon Trump’s face on park passes.

Images of the proposed passport design, provided to The Bulwark under condition of non-disclosure, reveal the following:

• The inside cover will display a scowling portrait of Trump, taken from his second inaugural photograph, superimposed over the Declaration of Independence. The president’s signature will appear in gold.
• The back cover will feature a traditional patriotic image: a section of John Trumbull’s painting Declaration of Independence.

According to a government official who shared color photographs of the redesign, the State Department plans a limited production run of 25,000 passports featuring Trump’s image. The design has not yet received final approval.

State Department and White House Respond to Inquiry

The Bulwark contacted both the State Department and the White House for comment. A State Department spokesperson requested a deadline extension, stating they were “looking into” the inquiry. After granting a two-hour extension, The Bulwark received an email from a White House spokesperson confirming the new design “on background,” with a link to an exclusive report published by Fox News during the same period.

Historical Context and Expert Reaction

Edward Kolla, a professor at Georgetown University specializing in the history of passports, called the decision “wacky.” He noted that no modern U.S. passport has ever featured the image of a sitting president, nor has any foreign passport included the head of state of any country. Historically, U.S. passports bore the signatures of issuing officials, but current passports are issued in the name of the Secretary of State, not the president.

The current U.S. passport design, in use since 2021, features Francis Scott Key observing the British bombardment of Fort McHenry on the inside cover.

Political Implications

The potential redesign coincides with President Trump’s push for the Save America Act, which would require voters to provide proof of citizenship—including a passport—before casting ballots.