A sweeping redesign of the standard U.S. passport set to debut in 2028 appears to feature an image of President Donald Trump inside the document, raising questions over whether Trump’s likeness will become a standard feature in passports issued to millions of Americans rather than an optional element of the limited-edition commemorative passport currently available.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveiled the new passport, dubbed “Flight of the Eagle,” during the Sept. 29 launch of America.gov, the Trump administration’s new portal designed to streamline access to federal government services.

During Rubio’s presentation, images of the redesigned passport showed artwork featuring Trump on the inside front cover. Unlike the limited-edition “Patriot Passport” issued this year for America’s 250th anniversary, the 2028 redesign is intended to replace the regular U.S. passport.

That distinction has drawn particular attention because Americans currently must specifically request the Trump-themed commemorative passport. If the image shown in the 2028 preview remains in the final design, applicants apparently would not have the same choice.

David Alwadish, founder and CEO of passport and visa service ItsEasy.com, said the Trump image on the passport previewed by Rubio “appears to be non-negotiable.”

The State Department, however, has stopped short of explicitly confirming that Trump’s portrait will be included in every standard passport beginning in 2028.

Asked about the matter, a State Department spokesperson instead pointed to the separate commemorative passport, saying, “President Trump’s image is featured on the so-called Patriot Passport commemorating America’s 250th anniversary, available while supplies last.”

That answer left unresolved whether the Trump artwork displayed during Rubio’s presentation represents the final version of the standard 2028 passport or could still be changed before production begins.

Alwadish predicted that even if Trump’s image is included when the passport launches, its long-term presence could depend on which party controls the government after Trump leaves office.

“My gut feeling is that the party in power in the next presidential term will determine whether this new Trump photo is short-lived or limited edition, as it will almost certainly be mandated for change by the next controlling party,” Alwadish said.

For Americans who specifically do not want a passport containing Trump’s image, Alwadish said there may be limited time to obtain the current design before the new books enter circulation.

Anyone in that category “probably has a narrow window to apply,” Alwadish said. “We won’t know if [the government will] mandate that every passport issued as of a specific date must have the new design, regardless of leftover inventory.”

The proposed Trump image is only one element of what will be the most significant visual overhaul of the American passport in years.

The “Flight of the Eagle” passport will retain the familiar blue exterior but substantially change its appearance. “United States of America” will be moved to the top of the cover, while the Great Seal of the United States will become larger and, as Rubio put it, “more gold.”

Inside, the pages will tell a visual story of American history, beginning with the American Revolution and continuing through westward expansion, the transcontinental railroad, the Wright brothers’ pioneering work in aviation, the flag raising at Iwo Jima and American space exploration, including the Artemis program.

A bald eagle will appear in slightly different positions on successive pages. When someone rapidly flips through the passport, the images will create a flipbook-style animation in which the eagle appears to fly across the pages.

“I can see Americans sitting at airports all over the world, like, ‘Why do people keep flipping through the page?’” Rubio said while demonstrating the feature. “It’s either this or some Game Boy for your kids to keep them entertained. They can flip the eagle around.”

The passport will also move to a single 38-page format. The State Department currently offers a standard 26-page passport and a larger 50-page version frequently requested by people who travel extensively.

The government announced earlier this year that the two sizes would be replaced by the single 38-page book when the next redesign is introduced. The department says standardizing the passport size should improve manufacturing efficiency and reduce waste, although frequent international travelers may have to renew their passports more often after the 50-page option disappears.

The new passport will also arrive differently. Instead of being mailed in the relatively plain envelopes traditionally used to deliver passports, the redesigned document will be shipped in a thin white presentation-style box featuring a gold government seal.

The 2028 passport should not be confused with the “Patriot Passport” already being issued in connection with the United States’ 250th anniversary.

That commemorative passport unquestionably features Trump. Its inside front cover displays a portrait of President Trump together with text from the Declaration of Independence, an American flag and Trump’s signature. The inside back cover features an illustration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The State Department originally planned a much smaller release of the commemorative passport, but expanded availability following strong demand. Up to 250,000 of the special passports are now being made available through designated in-person appointments and events across the country.

Americans do not receive a Patriot Passport simply by submitting an ordinary application. Applicants seeking one must specifically pursue the commemorative edition through the State Department’s designated process. Those applying online, by mail or through an ordinary passport acceptance facility receive the regular passport design.

“No one gets that passport without specially requesting it, so there is no risk of getting that passport unexpectedly,” Alwadish said.

The State Department says the commemorative passport contains the same advanced security technology as an ordinary U.S. passport and functions as a normal international travel document.

The Trump portrait itself has already generated political controversy. Democratic senators wrote to Rubio earlier this year objecting to placing the image of a sitting president inside a U.S. passport, arguing that passport artwork traditionally celebrates American history, national landmarks and institutions rather than contemporary political leaders.

The lawmakers pointed to earlier commemorative passports, including a bicentennial passport featuring the Liberty Bell and a special green passport issued in 1993 honoring Benjamin Franklin and the 200th anniversary of U.S. consular service.

The passport overhaul is occurring alongside a potentially much more consequential change for Americans seeking their first passport: the State Department plans to move most of the application process online.

Rubio said the administration’s goal is for the vast majority of Americans to be able to apply for a passport or passport card through America.gov by the end of 2027. Online passport renewal is already available, but first-time applicants traditionally have been required to appear in person with their documents.

“That is where the maze starts,” Rubio said. “You have to know which form to print, you have to schedule an appointment, then you have to go wait in line.”

Under the planned system, applicants would sign in electronically, submit the necessary information, upload their own passport photograph, make payment online and follow the application’s progress through real-time status updates.

“You probably can’t use those filters to make you look 50 years younger, but you can take a picture of yourself on the phone in the comfort of your own home, or you can upload one directly from your own device,” Rubio said.

Applicants would even be able to preview how their photograph will look inside the finished passport and retake it before submitting the application.

The State Department says existing passports will remain valid until their normal expiration dates, meaning Americans will not have to replace an unexpired passport simply because the “Flight of the Eagle” design begins rolling out in 2028.

For now, one important question remains unanswered. The State Department has clearly confirmed Trump’s portrait in the optional 250th-anniversary Patriot Passport, while the presentation of the standard 2028 passport also showed his likeness. But officials have not yet explicitly confirmed that the Trump image displayed in Rubio’s preview will appear in every standard passport once the new design goes into production.

{Matzav.com}