The U.S. Department of the Interior wants to launch a special edition of the U.S. passport. Apparently, the passport will feature a portrait of Donald Trump. This new passport will not affect European travelers who wish to travel to the United States with an ESTA.

Anniversary edition of the U.S. passport

The White House has announced the creation of a limited-edition U.S. passport featuring a large portrait of Donald Trump with the U.S. Declaration of Independence in the background. A golden signature of the current president will appear below his portrait. Sharp criticism of the plans to introduce the new U.S. passport arose Almost immediately after the announcement, the plan was heavily criticised on social media.

Aside from its special design, the anniversary edition of the U.S. passport will be a valid travel document allowing U.S. citizens to travel and apply for visas. Travelers who do not hold a U.S. (or Canadian) passport need an ESTA or a visa to visit the U.S.

Reason for the introduction of the special passport

On July 4, 2026, the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. On July 4, 1776, during the American War of Independence, the Declaration of Independence was adopted. At the end of the war, the thirteen former British colonies emerged victorious and became independent. Since then, July 4 has been the most important national holiday in the United States.

The U.S. government has announced that the special passport will be available to any U.S. citizen who applies for a new passport after its official launch. The passport will be available exclusively through the Washington Passport Agency. Applicants will receive the new design at no additional cost, but only while supplies last. The White House has not provided further clarification on exactly what this entails or whether citizens will have the option to decline the new passport design. According to estimates, between 25,000 and 30,000 copies will be printed.

An unprecedented move by a U.S. president

In general, it is not customary to feature sitting presidents on a country’s passport. Even in American history, no president has ever been depicted on a passport. Current U.S. passports feature significant moments in American history, such as the moon landing and the Statue of Liberty. Countries have various reasons for not doing so. Passports must be neutral documents that are accepted worldwide. Featuring a political leader on the passport automatically associates the document with a particular political orientation. Additionally, the design of neutral passports needs to be changed less frequently.

Apply for ESTA for the United States

If you are planning to travel to the United States for a holiday, a business trip, or a stop over, you will need to apply for an ESTA or a visa. The U.S. ESTA is a travel authorization that you can obtain by filling in an online application form. British, Irish and most other European travelers are eligible for the ESTA. Once approved, the ESTA is valid for up to 2 years for an unlimited number of trips to the United States. Each stay can be of a maximum of 90 days. The application process is very easy. You only need to fill in the application form and then submit a selfie and a passport scan. Once your application has been submitted, your ESTA will be issued within 3 days on average. If you are travelling at short notice you can always submit an urgent application. Urgent applications are processed on average within 6 hours.