There are few modern precedents anywhere in the world, let alone in a democracy, for photographs of seated leaders appearing in passports – Copyright POOL/AFP Aaron Chown
Donald Trump’s photo will soon appear on some US passports, it was confirmed on Tuesday, breaking another norm as the president aggressively puts himself in person at government institutions.
The State Department confirmed it would offer a limited-edition passport to mark this year’s 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence.
A Fox News article, reposted by a State Department spokesman, showed an image of Trump in his passport superimposed over the Declaration of Independence, with his signature underneath.
Separately, he showed a picture of the Founding Fathers of the USA.
“As the United States celebrates America’s 250th birthday in July, the State Department is preparing to issue a limited number of specially designed US passports to commemorate this historic occasion,” said State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott.
Another State Department official said there would be no additional fee for the passport.
There are few modern precedents anywhere in the world, let alone in a democracy, of seated photos of leaders appearing in passports, with most countries preferring to depict historical images or nature.
Current US passports depict numerous scenes from the country’s history, such as the moon landing along with historic sites such as the Statue of Liberty.
Trump since returning to office last year has slapped himself on government institutions in an unprecedented way, with several government buildings in Washington putting up his banners and Trump imposing his name on the Kennedy Center’s performing arts center and the defunct American Institute of Peace.
Last month the Treasury Department said Trump’s signature would begin appearing on the dollar, in another first.
Britain and other Commonwealth countries feature on their currency the likeness of King Charles III, who is head of state without direct involvement in politics. The king was meeting Trump on Tuesday during a state visit to Washington.
The Fox News article said the Trump-themed passports would only be issued in Washington and that they would expire when no more are available.
It was not immediately clear whether an American could refuse the Trump-themed passport.
