The decision to emblazon former President Donald Trump’s likeness on US passports has been branded a ‘vulgar vanity’ by British diplomats, escalating tensions between London and Washington. The move, confirmed by State Department sources, is seen as an unprecedented politicisation of official travel documents. It comes at a delicate moment for the so-called special relationship, already strained by trade disagreements and differing approaches to global security.
British officials expressed alarm that the portrait, which replaces the traditional eagle and shield motif, would undermine the passport’s role as a neutral identifier. A senior Foreign Office source told this paper: “This is not protocol. It is propaganda. We are deeply concerned about the signal it sends to allies and adversaries alike.” The source added that the embassy had raised the issue through diplomatic channels, but received no assurances.
The change applies to newly issued standard passports and those renewing documents. Critics argue it represents a dangerous blurring of state and individual image. Labour MP and chair of the foreign affairs select committee, Samantha Cooper, said: “This isn’t just about a face on a passport. It’s about the principle that our travel documents represent a nation, not a person. It reeks of autocracy.”
The row intensifies as bilateral talks on a post-Brexit trade deal falter. Whitehall insiders fear the passport rebrand may be a prelude to further unilateral actions by Washington. A former British ambassador to the US warned: “The special relationship has survived many storms. But this is different. This is a deliberate provocation.”
The US State Department defended the decision, stating the design “reflects the enduring spirit of American greatness.” However, internal memos leaked to the press suggest even some US officials voiced concerns about the cost and appropriateness of the change. Production delays are already reported as printing presses adapt to the new imagery.
For ordinary Britons planning travel to the States, the passport row adds to existing anxieties about reciprocal visa rules and rising costs. One London travel agent noted a 30 per cent drop in bookings to the US over the past month. “People are confused. They don’t know if they’ll be allowed in or if they’ll face extra questioning,” she said.
The timing could not be worse. The annual economic summit between the two nations, scheduled for next month, now hangs in the balance. British ministers are said to be reconsidering their attendance. A source close to the Prime Minister said: “We cannot pretend business as usual when such fundamental norms are being broken.”
The passport controversy also threatens to overshadow cooperation on intelligence sharing and climate change. Whitehall analysts worry that the ‘vanity project’ may signal a broader disregard for multilateral agreements. The US has already signalled reluctance to extend the Five Eyes intelligence alliance’s scope, citing ‘national sovereignty’.
On the streets of Manchester, where memories of the cotton trade’s reliance on American slavery still linger, the news stirred anger. “It’s like a slap in the face,” said retired mill worker Frank Dobson. “Our passports mean something. They’re not a billboard for some billionaire’s ego.”
For now, British diplomats are calling for calm but firm responses. Options under consideration include reciprocal changes to UK visas or a formal protest at the United Nations. But the underlying fear is that the special relationship has entered a new, more transactional phase. One former minister summed it up: “We used to be partners. Now we feel like bystanders in our own alliance.”
