Trump's image to appear in US passports, sparks new controversy

The United States Department of State has decided to issue a limited-edition special passport featuring President Donald Trump's image on the inside cover to mark the 250th anniversary of the country's independence.

According to a BBC report, the new passports may become available from summer. The design includes a large portrait of Trump on the inside cover, superimposed over the Declaration of Independence, with his signature printed in gold beneath it . Another page features a historic painting of the Founding Fathers signing the Declaration of Independence.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement that the special passport will feature customised artwork and enhanced imagery while maintaining the same security features . The passport will be available from the Washington-based passport agency on a first-come, first-served basis.

The initiative is part of the 'America250' celebration programme, which includes various events, sports activities and a planned Grand Prix street race in Washington .

However, critics argue that featuring a sitting president's image on a state document breaks with long-standing tradition and suggests a personality cult . Democratic lawmakers have accused Trump of "indulging his vanity" and wasting taxpayer dollars .

There are few modern precedents anywhere in the world, let alone in a democracy, of displaying a sitting leader's picture in passports . Even North Korea, which plaster's leader Kim Jong Un's image across the country, does not feature him in its passport, instead depicting sacred Mount Paektu .

Current US passports depict multiple scenes from the country's history, such as the Moon landing, along with historic sites including the Statue of Liberty .

This is the latest in a series of moves by the Trump administration to attach the president's name or likeness to official property . The Treasury Department has also said Trump's signature will soon appear on the dollar bill, another first for a sitting president . Several government buildings in Washington have hung banners of the president, and officials have added his name to the Kennedy Center and other institutions.