An unusual and controversial move has come to light in the United States, under which a limited edition passport has been announced to be issued, which will include the picture of the current US President Donald Trump and his golden signature.
This announcement was made on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of America’s independence. According to a foreign news agency, a sample of this new passport was presented during an event in Washington, in which Trump’s picture was shown with the background of the Declaration of Independence.
Another design includes a historical painting of the founding fathers of America. According to officials, this special passport will be available only in the capital for a limited period and no additional fee will be charged to obtain it.
The announcement has sparked a strong reaction in political circles. Opposition leaders have called the move a personal promotion by the president, saying that using state resources for personal purposes is against democratic values.
Critics say that it is rare for a sitting head of government to be included on a passport in democracies around the world. Interestingly, most countries in the world feature natural landscapes, historical heritage or national symbols in their passports. Even some hard-line countries prefer other symbols of national identity instead of pictures of their leaders. The current US passport also features symbols such as the moon landing and the Statue of Liberty.
According to reports, President Trump has taken steps to highlight his name and image on various government institutions and buildings since taking office, including changing the names of important national institutions and installing banners on government buildings.
Earlier, the Treasury Department announced that Trump’s signature would be included on dollar bills in the future, which would be a new tradition.
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