The Americans have done it again. A new passport design, unveiled to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, features the face of Donald Trump. Yes, you read that right. The former president’s mug is now plastered on the official document of travel for US citizens.
Reaction in Whitehall has been swift and brutal. One senior Foreign Office source described it as “the most American thing since the McRib”. Another called it “a vanity project dressed up as patriotism”. The word “tacky” was used a lot.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t a joke. The US State Department confirmed the design earlier today. Trump’s portrait sits inside a golden laurel wreath on the inside cover, replacing the traditional eagle and stars. The official line is that Trump was chosen because he took office in the anniversary year (2017). But everyone knows the real reason: Trump demanded it.
I’ve spoken to a former Trump administration official who said, “He wanted his face on something people use every day. He tried the dollar bill, but that was a step too far. Passports were the compromise.”
Downing Street is trying to stay above the fray. A Number 10 spokesperson said only, “We do not comment on other nations’ passport designs.” But off the record? They’re laughing. One aide told me, “It’s perfect. He’s literally stamped on every American who travels. Symbolism on steroids.”
The timing is awkward. The new passports roll out just as the US and UK begin trade talks. Some in Whitehall worry this will embolden Trump’s supporters in the Conservative party. “We’ll see Boris trying to get his face on blue passports next,” joked one Labour MP.
But the real political game is about the special relationship. The UK is desperate for a trade deal. The US knows it. And now they’ve sent a message: we do what we want. Trump may be out of office, but his shadow looms large.
Let’s not forget the practicalities. British border agents will now have to check the face of a man they’ve spent years avoiding on Twitter. It’s a small diplomatic headache, but a telling one.
And what about the Queen? Her portrait graces UK passports. There will be no comparable change for the Platinum Jubilee. The British establishment regards this as a matter of dignity, not celebration.
So here we are. A passport is a symbol of a nation. America has chosen to put a politician on theirs. Not a founding father, not a civil rights leader, but a reality TV star turned president. The mockery in Whitehall is bipartisan. Everyone agrees: it’s crass. But no one is surprised.
Watch this space. The backbench rebellion is already stirring. One Tory MP has tabled a question about the impact on bilateral relations. Others are demanding a review of passport security standards. It’s all theatre, of course. But it tells you how the wind is blowing.
This is Eleanor Rigby, filing from the Lobby. The political game never sleeps.
