Trump’s face doesn’t belong on U.S. passport, senators tell Rubio

President Donald Trump’s face should not be printed on a special edition U.S. passport, a group led by Democratic senators said in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday.

In the letter first shared with CNBC, the group led by Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., called on Rubio to halt plans to issue a limited number of passports featuring Trump to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary.

“The US passport has never, and should not now, contain the image of a sitting US president. Given the anti-democratic impact this decision will have, we ask you to halt these plans,” the group said.

The letter was addressed to Sens. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and Tim Kaine, D-Va., who are caucusing with Democrats. and signed by Angus King, I-Maine.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Announced via X It will launch limited edition passports in April and “sneak peakTrump’s likeness placed on the Declaration of Independence”.

Trump, with the support of his congressional allies, has made a point of putting his name and likeness on various things during his second term.

His image appears on the 2026 America the Beautiful National Parks annual pass, and another effort is underway to have his face placed on a special-edition $1 coin that will appear on the 250th anniversary gold coin. Additionally, in honor of America’s 250th anniversary, Trump’s signature will appear on dollar bills; This will be the first time in history that a sitting president will leave such a mark on paper money. U.S. Federal departments around Washington, including Agriculture, Justice and Labor, hung banners with Trump’s likeness on their facades.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, we are moving toward unprecedented economic growth, permanent dollar dominance, fiscal strength and stability,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. It will announce its currency plan in March. “There is no more powerful way to recognize the historic accomplishments of our great country and President Donald J. Trump than the U.S. dollar bills bearing his name, and it is only fitting that this historic currency be issued during the Bicentennial.”

Meanwhile, GOP lawmakers this Congress introduced legislation that would put his image on Mount Rushmore, rename Dulles International Airport in his honor, and declare his birthday a national holiday. And Trump is pushing for a 250-foot “triumphal arch” to be built near Arlington National Cemetery. 40 million dollar “sculpture garden” “American heroes” near the National Mall.

Democrats tried to defeat these proposals. Merkley in December with Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev. He introduced a law that would prevent Trump’s face from being placed on a $1 coin. In January, Trump called on Rep. Sarah Elfreth, D-Md., to introduce a measure that would block national park passes. He worked with.

In the letter to Rubio, lawmakers asked what it would cost taxpayers, how the design was chosen and whether there would be an option to opt out.

“Using our nation’s semicentennial to raise the current president’s profile risks turning a unifying national milestone into a tool for personal promotion,” the senators wrote. “To proceed would risk politicizing a document central to our national identity and result in unnecessary and wasteful costs to American taxpayers.”

Correction: This story has been corrected to reflect that Senator Angus King is from Maine.