Passport, Signed Trump

President Donald Trump’s image is preparing to travel the world—even when the president himself stays home.

The U.S. State Department announced that its limited-edition “Patriot Passport,” created for America’s 250th anniversary, will become available at special passport events across the country after initially being offered only through the Washington Passport Agency.

The commemorative passport features customized artwork on its covers, including a portrait of Trump alongside words from the Declaration of Independence, an American flag, and the president’s signature. The inside back cover shows the signing of the Declaration, while the outside carries a special Freedom 250 design. It remains a fully valid U.S. passport with the same security features as the standard version.

Apparently, the president’s well-known instinct for branding has now reached the one government document most Americans try desperately not to lose.

The State Department said it expanded the program “in response to popular demand” and is offering 250,000 of the special passports nationwide. That description has not been independently measured through polling, but the department appears confident that plenty of travelers would like a presidential portrait waiting inside their luggage.

Applicants will not receive one automatically. They must schedule an in-person appointment at the Washington Passport Agency or attend one of the designated commemorative passport events during August and September. Regular passport fees and processing times generally apply.

California events include an August 10 appointment day at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, an August 20 event at the San Francisco Passport Agency and an August 22 event in San Diego. Appointments must be arranged by calling the State Department’s passport number; they cannot be booked online. Additional events are planned in cities including Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Boston, Seattle, Houston and Honolulu.

Travelers who prefer a passport without Trump’s portrait still have several options. They can apply online, renew by mail, use a regular acceptance facility such as a post office or library, or submit an application through a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. A 52-page large passport book also retains the traditional design, while the commemorative edition contains the standard 26 pages.

The program is not a political requirement, an additional travel credential or a loyalty card. It is simply an optional commemorative passport marking the nation’s 250th birthday.

Still, the expansion offers another reminder that Trump rarely encounters an available surface without at least considering whether it might benefit from his name, signature, or photograph. Judging by the State Department’s decision to print 250,000 more, quite a few Americans apparently agree that even international travel could use a little more Trump.