White House unveils new US passport design with Trump portrait

The White House on Friday released images of a new passport design commemorating the United States’ 250th anniversary. The passport features President Donald Trump’s portrait as a watermark, his signature, and the number '250'. Dubbed the 'patriot passport' by the White House, Trump himself on Truth Social called it 'The U.S.A.’s New Passport, which says, “Welcome, but be good!”'

The State Department said the limited-edition commemorative passport was created 'to commemorate the historic occasion of America’s 250th anniversary' and will be issued at the Washington Passport Agency starting July 6, 2026, while supplies last. An earlier rendering from April showed different artwork; the final version replaces a stern headshot with a three-quarter-length portrait of Trump leaning over the Resolute Desk with clenched fists, taken by White House photographer Daniel Torok. The same photo hangs in the Smithsonian’s 'America’s Presidents' exhibition.

Trump’s portrait is surrounded by text from the Declaration of Independence, with his signature and 'United States of America' below. The facing page depicts the Founding Fathers signing the Declaration, based on a John Trumbull painting at the Yale University Art Gallery. The back cover now features a gold 'Freedom 250' flag; previously Trump’s signature was in gold without the '250'. Now the signature is black and '250' is gold.

Democrats have criticized both the passport and a planned commemorative gold coin. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden called for halting the coin, citing reports that some gold came from illegal mining and arguing the coin 'is more befitting a monarchy than a democracy'. California Governor Gavin Newsom mocked the passport plan by creating a mock gold-hued driver’s license with his own face.