Story perspectives

State Dept Releases Free Trump-Portrait Passport, 30k Copies

4/29/2026

Summary

Story summary

The State Department will issue a limited-edition U.S. passport that places a sitting president’s portrait—President Donald Trump’s—inside the document.
The passports will be sold at the Washington Passport Agency in July 2026, retain all security features, cost no extra fee, and will be produced in an unverified run of 25,000-30,000 copies.
The cover reverses the usual placement of “United States of America” and “Passport” and adds a gold flag bearing the number 250.

History

Historical Context

After World I, the 1920 League of Nations conference standardized passport booklets, building on wartime moves such as the 1914 British law that made photographs mandatory. U.S. passport reforms later adopted photo-bearing designs, and the 2024 limited-edition passport featuring Donald Trump’s portrait revives the personalization model, drawing congressional scrutiny. Over 150 jurisdictions issue e-passports as of July 2024.

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Story summary

The State Department will issue a limited-edition U.S. passport that places a sitting president’s portrait—President Donald Trump’s—inside the document.
The passports will be sold at the Washington Passport Agency in July 2026, retain all security features, cost no extra fee, and will be produced in an unverified run of 25,000-30,000 copies.
The cover reverses the usual placement of “United States of America” and “Passport” and adds a gold flag bearing the number 250.

1 / 2