July 31 (UPI) — The U.S. Department of State announced it will expand access to the Trump passports, previously only available in Washington, D.C.
“In response to overwhelming demand, the Department of State is making an additional 250,000 of the special commemorative passports available to the public. Americans all across the country will now have the opportunity to apply for one of these additional special passports, known as the ‘Patriot Passport,'” a press release said Thursday.
Passport offices in Centennial, Colo.; Chicago; Dallas; Detroit; Minneapolis; New Orleans; and Stamford, Conn., will host application events on Aug. 8. Other passport offices will do the same in later weeks.
The State Department announced the new passport in April, and a design was released in June that showed an image of President Donald Trump and an image of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The new design is to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States.
“Since its release in celebration of 250 years of American independence, the commemorative passport has generated extraordinary public interest,” the State Department said in the release. “The Department of State is responding by expanding access so Americans across the country can obtain this unique and special document.”
A State Department spokesperson told CNN the department has, “been flooded — by phone, on social media, and in-person at events like the Great American State Fair — by inquiries and requests to apply for the Patriot Passport.
“That includes over 30,000 of Americans who have phoned our passport call center since July 4 seeking a chance to apply for this passport,” the spokesperson said.
Trump is the first sitting president to have his image on a passport.
This fall, the U.S. Mint will release a $1 gold coin featuring Trump’s portrait in honor of the country’s birthday.
