Trump's image on US passports sparks backlash as critics decry 'vanity project'

Trump's image on US passports sparks backlash as critics decry 'vanity project' Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 04/29/2026 - 20:02 Plans to include the US president's image inside passports fuel accusations of monarchical symbolism US President Donald Trump speaks as Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla look on during a State Dinner in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on 28 April 2026 (Brendan Smialowski/AFP) Off Plans to issue specially designed US passports featuring an image of President Donald Trump have triggered a wave of online criticism this week, with opponents calling the move a “vanity project” and drawing comparisons to monarchies that the US was founded to reject. A State Department official said on Tuesday that the redesigned passport would become the default document issued at the Washington Passport Agency for in-person renewals once it becomes available, while online applications and other locations would continue to use the existing design. According to a mockup circulated alongside the announcement, Trump’s face and gold signature would appear on the inside cover of the passport.