ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Trump's Face and Signature to Appear on US Passport for 250th Anniversary

cultural-heritage · 2026-04-29

The US State Department will issue a limited-edition passport featuring President Donald Trump's portrait and signature, marking the first time a sitting president's likeness has appeared on the document. The design, available at the Washington Passport Agency, shows Trump's unsmiling face on the inside cover superimposed on text from the Declaration of Independence. The move follows similar efforts to brand public resources with Trump's name, including adding his name to the Kennedy Center and placing his signature on US currency. The passport's portrait echoes his official photograph by Chief White House Photographer Daniel Torok. The State Department did not disclose the artists or designers involved. White House spokesperson Olivia Wales cited a renewal of national pride during the semiquincentennial. The current passport features Mount Rushmore. The action aligns with the administration's overhaul of Smithsonian content and the US Pavilion selection for the Venice Biennale.

Key facts

  • US passports will display a sitting president's portrait for the first time.
  • The limited-edition passport commemorates the country's 250th anniversary.
  • Trump's face and signature appear on the inside cover.
  • The design is available only at the Washington Passport Agency.
  • The portrait is based on Trump's official photograph by Daniel Torok.
  • Trump's name was added to the Kennedy Center and his signature to US currency.
  • The State Department did not identify the designers.
  • The administration is using the semiquincentennial to overhaul Smithsonian content and the US Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.

Entities

Artists

  • Daniel Torok

Institutions

  • US State Department
  • White House
  • John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
  • Smithsonian Institution
  • Venice Biennale
  • Hyperallergic
  • Fox News
  • The Bulwark

Locations

  • United States
  • Washington Passport Agency
  • Mount Rushmore
  • Washington D.C.

Sources