U.S. State Department | Via Reuters
The group, led by Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., in the letter shared first with CNBC, called on Rubio to halt plans to issue a limited number of passports featuring Trump to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary.
“The U.S. passport has never — and should not now — feature an image of a sitting U.S. president. We ask you to halt these plans given the anti-democratic impact this decision will have,” the group wrote.
The letter was signed by Sens. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Angus King, I-Maine, who caucuses with Democrats.
Trump, with support from his congressional allies, has made a point of putting his name and likeness on a variety of things in his second term.
His image appears on the 2026 America the Beautiful National Parks annual pass and will appear on a 250th anniversary gold coin, while another effort is afoot to get his face on a special edition $1 coin. Also in honor of America’s 250th, Trump’s signature will appear on dollar bills, the first time a sitting president will leave such an imprint on paper currency in the history of the U.S. Federal departments around Washington, including Agriculture, Justice and Labor, have hung banners from their facades featuring Trump’s likeness.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, we are on a path toward unprecedented economic growth, lasting dollar dominance, and fiscal strength and stability,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement announcing the currency plan in March. “There is no more powerful way to recognize the historic achievements of our great country and President Donald J. Trump than U.S dollar bills bearing his name, and it is only appropriate that this historic currency be issued at the Semiquincentennial.”
Meanwhile, GOP lawmakers this Congress have introduced legislation to put his image on Mount Rushmore, rename Dulles International Airport in his honor and declare his birthday a national holiday. And Trump is pressing for a 250-foot “triumphal arch” to be built near Arlington National Cemetery and a $40 million “statue garden” of “American heroes” near the National Mall.
Democrats have attempted to push back on these proposals. Merkley in December introduced legislation with Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., to block placing Trump’s face on a $1 coin. In January, he teamed up with Rep. Sarah Elfreth, D-Md., to introduce a measure that would block Trump’s national park passes.
In the letter to Rubio, the lawmakers asked what the cost to taxpayers would be, how the design was selected and whether there would be an option to opt out.
“Using our nation’s semiquincentennial to elevate the profile of the current president risks turning a unifying national milestone into a vehicle for personal promotion,” the senators wrote. “Proceeding would risk politicizing a document that is central to our national identity and could result in unnecessary and wasteful costs to the American taxpayer.”
Correction: This story has been corrected to reflect that Sen. Angus King is from Maine.
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