The federal government is preparing to release a limited run of commemorative United States passports featuring President Donald Trump’s portrait, marking the first time in American history that a sitting president will appear on the country’s primary travel document.
The State Department confirmed Tuesday that the new passport design will launch in July as part of the America250 celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence. The commemorative edition will feature Trump’s image on the inside cover, set over the Declaration of Independence, with his signature rendered in gold. The design represents a significant departure from the traditional imagery of American landmarks, wildlife, and historical scenes that have long defined the interior pages of US passports.
The limited-edition passport will not be widely available. Applications for the commemorative version can only be submitted in person at the Washington Passport Agency in Washington DC, making it accessible primarily to residents of the capital region or those willing to travel specifically to obtain one. Americans applying for passports online or through standard passport acceptance facilities, including the multiple locations serving Seattle and the greater Puget Sound area, will continue to receive the existing standard design.
The release is tied to a broader series of America250 commemorations planned for this summer, which mark the seminal moment in 1776 when the United States declared independence from Britain. Federal officials have framed the passport as a collector’s item befitting a milestone national anniversary. Critics, however, have already raised concerns about the precedent of placing a sitting president’s likeness on an official government travel document, an act they argue blurs the line between national celebration and political branding. Supporters of the design counter that the anniversary warrants a distinctive commemorative edition and that presidential imagery is appropriate given the occasion.
For Seattle-area residents curious about obtaining the commemorative version, the only path is a direct application at the Washington Passport Agency in DC. All local passport offices and online applications will process requests for the standard passport only.
