The special relationship just got a lot more awkward. Sources confirm the Trump administration is pushing to stamp the 45th president's face on US passports to mark the nation's 250th birthday in 2026. The move, described by White House insiders as “unprecedented,” has already sparked a diplomatic row. Britain’s consul general in New York, Emma Wade-Smith, let slip at a private reception that the proposal reeks of “vulgar nationalism.” Her words, caught by a Lobby man nursing a gin and tonic, are now reverberating through the corridors of power.
This isn't just a portrait. This is a play for legacy. Trump, still seething over his 2020 loss, is desperate to cement his image in federal iconography. But passports? That's sacred ground. No living ex-president has ever appeared on them. The last face change was the obelisk design in 1996.
The timing is exquisite. The PM is due to visit Washington next month. A full-blown passport row is the last thing No. 10 needs. Quiet words have already been had. The British embassy is “monitoring closely.” Expect a carefully worded statement from the Foreign Office soon. But the damage is done. The consul general’s off-mic remark has given Downing Street a headache. They can't disavow her without looking weak. They can't back Trump without looking sycophantic.
This story has legs. The 2026 deadline gives Trump plenty of time to rally his base. But the State Department bureaucracy moves like treacle. Expect leaks, resignations, and a lot of backbench muttering. The game is on.
