The U.S. State Department is rolling out a commemorative passport this summer with President Trump's image and his signature in gold, printed inside the front cover.

Naturally, it's a controversial move – one that's sure to get people talking … and making plans for their own applications. 

If you're hoping to get your hands on one of these new passports, you'll need to make a trip to Washington, D.C. – and you'll need to time it just right.  For those who would prefer not to have this limited-edition travel accessory, you don't need to worry: Online options and other locations will maintain the existing passport design.

These new look passports – first reported by The Bulwark and Fox News – are part of the broader America250 push tied to July's 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed the rollout on Tuesday, calling it “a limited number of specially designed U.S. Passports to commemorate this historic occasion.”

How limited? The Bulwark, citing an unnamed official, reported the run will cap at 25,000 passports. For context: the U.S. issues well over 20 million passports a year.

 

Proposed new passport design
Courtesy of the U.S. State Department

 

These special designs are expected to debut in July – though the exact timing is still a little murky – to coincide with the Fourth of July festivities and the country's big birthday. 

A State Department official told CNN that the new design “will be the default passport out of the Washington Passport Agency when available” for those who renew their passports in person at that location. “Online options or other locations will maintain [the] existing passport design,” the official said.

That's a meaningful guardrail. The Washington Passport Agency isn't a place most travelers ever set foot in – it's a single appointment-only facility designed for travelers with international trips in the next 14 days – or 28 days if you also need a visa. It's meant for last-resort, expedited service for people in a serious time crunch.

If you live outside D.C. and don't have an emergency international trip on the books between July and whenever the limited supply runs out, the odds of one of these landing in your hands are essentially zero. Renew online or by mail when you're due, and you'll receive the standard design. 

Of course, the most headline-grabbing element of this new design is the inclusion of President Donald Trump’s portrait and signature within the design – something that’s never been done before on a U.S. passport – but there's more to it than that.

The words “United States of America” have been enlarged and moved to the top of the book and the back cover will feature a 1777 version of the U.S. flag with “250” centered between the 13 stars. 

 

America250 commemorative passport design
Courtesy of the U.S. State Department

 

The commemorative version also features fresh artwork and patriotic imagery throughout, including references to the Declaration of Independence and early American history. One interior page includes a well-known painting depicting the signing of the Declaration, while other design tweaks nod to America’s founding fathers.

Beyond the design, the nuts and bolts remain the same. These passports will carry the same security features as the current “Next Generation” passports, meaning they’ll still be fully valid for international travel – just with a bit more … let's call it … flair.

 

Bottom Line

A commemorative U.S. passport featuring President Trump's image is real, it's coming this summer, and it's going to dominate news cycles for a beat.

But if you're not in Washington, D.C., with emergency international travel on the books between July and whenever the limited supply runs out, you are not getting one.