Trump to put his picture in US passports

There are few modern precedents anywhere in the world, let alone in a democracy, of sitting leaders’ pictures appearing in such documents

Donald Trump’s picture will soon appear in some US passports, officials said on Tuesday, shattering another norm as the president aggressively puts his personal stamp on government institutions.

The US State Department, following reports by Fox News and The Bulwark, confirmed it would offer a limited-edition passport to mark this year’s 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence.

The articles included two images set to appear inside the passports, one of Trump’s official photo imposed over the Declaration of Independence, with his signature – in gold – underneath.

The second showed a historic painting of the US Founding Fathers.

“As the United States celebrates America’s 250th anniversary in July, the State Department is preparing to release a limited number of specially designed US passports to commemorate this historic occasion,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said on social media, linking to the Fox News piece.

Another State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Trump-themed passports would only be available in Washington “for as long as there is availability” and at no additional cost.