The White House has responded to criticism over a limited-edition United States passport featuring a portrait of President Donald Trump, by taking a dig at former President Barack Obama.
In April, the U.S. State Department announced it was finalizing plans to include a portrait of Trump in new, limited-edition passports to commemorate 250 years of the nation.
A State Department spokesperson said at the time that the passports “will feature customized artwork and enhanced imagery while maintaining the same security features that make the U.S. passport the most secure documents in the world.” It would be the first time a sitting president has been featured on official travel documents.
Olivia Wales, a spokesperson from the White House, told Newsweek: “President Trump wants all Americans to enjoy the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary this year—and it’s a shame that Democrats are choosing partisan politics over unity.
“The President and his administration are proudly leading a renewal of national pride and patriotism for all Americans during this historical semiquincentennial celebration, ensuring America gets the spectacular birthday it deserves.”
The passport decision has drawn criticism from some, and now the official White House X account has hit back with a dig at Obama amid the controversy.
On April 28, the White House posted an image of the upcoming passport, featuring Trump and his signature, and wrote: “Patriot passport unlocked. Limited edition. Stamped for America 250.”
One user, @m_fernandez60, who has previously criticized Trump and the administration, responded to the post with an AI-generated image featuring the president as a golden calf statue, with people in suits bowing down before it. He wrote: “MAGA worship your idol.”
And the White House responded directly with a post reading: “What about this one Mike?”
The account attached a photo of a special edition SmarTrip card from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), released in January 2009 to mark the inauguration of then-President-elect Obama.
It featured a photograph of the Democrat, along with the words: “Barack Obama. 44th President of the United States. Inauguration Day January 20, 2009.” Newsweek has contacted the WMATA for comment on this story.
The White House’s post drew a huge reaction, with one user writing: “That’s a one-day Metro ticket, not a U.S. passport.”
User @m_fernandez60 also replied, arguing: “You can’t seriously be comparing a one-day Metro ticket to a U.S. passport with a ten year validity.”
“You’re equating a commemorative inauguration Metro card to a passport?,” another asked, with a third arguing: “One off Inauguration Day special ticket is not the same as a permanent picture on a passport that lasts for 10 years.”
On January 5, 2009, the WMATA announced the commemorative SmarTrip cards would be available to buy online, at Metro sales offices and the Pentagon, and at select CVS stores, costing $10 without fare value, or $20 with fare value loaded onto the card.
The new Trump passports will be available to applicants using the Washington, D.C., passport office, who make a special request. Those who do not want the commemorative passport will be able to choose a standard one, officials have said.
American passports’ current design depicts the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota, which features George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln—the only depiction of any presidents in the passport.
It also includes images of famous U.S. landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty, and quotations from the likes of John F Kennedy, Dwight Eisenhower and Martin Luther King Jr.
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