New U.S. passports with Trump's image are available. Here's how to get (or avoid) one

Accessibility links Skip to main content Keyboard shortcuts for audio player Open Navigation Menu --> Newsletters NPR Shop Get NPR+ Close Navigation Menu Home News Expand/collapse submenu for News National World Politics Business Health Science Climate Race Culture Expand/collapse submenu for Culture Books Movies Television Pop Culture Food Art & Design Performing Arts Life Kit Gaming Music Expand/collapse submenu for Music Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions Podcasts & Shows Expand/collapse submenu for Podcasts & Shows Daily Morning Edition Weekend Edition Saturday Weekend Edition Sunday All Things Considered Up First Here & Now NPR Politics Podcast Featured Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! Fresh Air Wild Card with Rachel Martin It's Been a Minute Embedded Get NPR+ More Podcasts & Shows Search Newsletters NPR Shop Get NPR+ Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions About NPR Diversity Support Careers Press Ethics How to get (or avoid) new Trump passports The passports feature an image of President Trump and are only available in person at the Washington Passport Agency — and only by appointment. Politics New U.S. passports with Trump's image are available. passport features an image of President Trump. Michele Kelemen/NPR hide caption WASHINGTON, D.C. — The State Department began issuing commemorative passports for America's 250th anniversary on Monday. The passports feature an image of President Trump and are only available in person at the Washington Passport Agency — and only with an appointment. John Hall drove all the way from his home in Alabama, in what he calls his "MAGA red" Hyundai, to get one of the new passports. "It's a commemorative thing to have," he told NPR. "I'm a big Trump supporter." Politics Marketing or a cult of personality? Trump's name and face are all over the place But he left empty-handed Monday because he couldn't get an appointment before he had to return home. He said he would try coming back when the State Department holds "special passport acceptance events" on future dates, including Aug. 22 and Sept. 26. The Washington passport office is usually for U.S. citizens who can prove they are traveling within a couple of days. Richmond, Va.'s Kim Zaninovich was in that position, and walked out of the office Monday saying it was "distressing" to see President Trump's image on the inside cover of her passport. "It's an angry look," she said of the illustration of Trump with closed fists on a desk, in front of the Declaration of Independence and the American flag. National U.S. to issue commemorative passports with Trump's picture for America's 250th birthday Zaninovich said she was given no choice to opt out and get a regular passport. Another applicant, Ariel Baras, said he was asked and decided "why not?" While there was initially some confusion about whether travelers had a choice, NPR did learn that there's a trick for those who are applying in person in Washington and do not want a passport with Trump's image: They can choose extra pages. The State Department says the 250th commemorative passport is only available in the standard, 26-page book. Larger passport books with 50 pages have the usual design. A previous version of this story incorrectly said the length of a standard U.S. passport book is 28 pages. It’s 26 pages. Sponsor Message Become an NPR sponsor