President Trump unveiled a limited-edition “Patriot Passport” design featuring his image on Friday to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, marking the first time a sitting U.S. president has appeared on the nation’s passport.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump shared renderings of the new passport pages and wrote: “The U.S.A.’s New Passport, which says, ‘Welcome, but be good!'” The design depicts Trump standing with his fists on the Resolute Desk, with text from the Declaration of Independence in the background and his signature below. A second page features an image of John Trumbull’s iconic “Declaration of Independence” painting alongside “United States of America 250.”
The phrase “Welcome, but be good!” does not appear in the actual images of the passport pages that Trump posted, which sparked confusion among commentators since U.S. passports are issued exclusively to American citizens for international travel, not to foreign visitors entering the country. Tim Wise, a commentator, noted on X that Trump appeared to misunderstand who passports are actually for, calling the design’s “creepy dictatorial vibe” concerning.
The White House reshared the images on its official X account, labeling the document a “patriot passport.” This design differs slightly from an earlier version the State Department announced in April, which featured Trump’s portrait with a gold signature and did not include the “250” designation.
Availability for the commemorative passport will be severely limited. Only 40,000 of the special-edition documents will be produced, according to the State Department. The passports will become available on July 6, 2026, and can only be obtained by applying in person at the Washington Passport Agency in Washington, D.C., while supplies last. They will not be available online, through the mail, at U.S. embassies or consulates abroad, or at any other passport agency location. The State Department will also feature the passport at its booth at the Great American State Fair.
The unveiling is the latest in a series of efforts by the Trump administration to insert the president’s name or likeness into federal institutions and documents. Earlier this year, Trump sought to add his name to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, though a judge ordered the administration to remove the signage. The administration has also announced plans for commemorative gold coins featuring Trump as part of the 250th anniversary celebration, and Trump is set to become the first sitting U.S. president to have his signature on American banknotes.
Sources
- The Hill — Trump’s June 27 unveiling of the patriot passport design, details of his social media post, and context on broader efforts to brand federal institutions with his name and likeness
- BBC — Design specifications, availability details starting July 6, in-person application requirements at Washington Passport Agency, and confirmation this is the first living president on a U.S. passport
- The Independent — Design details, the “Welcome, but be good!” text discrepancy, reactions from commentators, the 40,000-passport production limit, and restricted availability
