The United States’ newest limited edition passport will say “welcome, but be good” on it. However, I can’t actually make sense of why it would say that? I’m not even trying to be political here, and I’m trying to remain balanced, but can anyone help me make sense of this?
In this post:
Trump unveils updated “patriotic passport” design
Several weeks ago, President Trump unveiled plans for a “patriotic passport.” The limited edition passport is intended to commemorate the United States’ 250th anniversary, and it prominently features Trump in front of the Declaration of Independence.
Below is what plans for the passport looked like several weeks ago.
Trump has now taken to his Truth Social platform to unveil the updated design, and there are indeed some changes. It appears that Trump’s signature is no longer in gold, and Trump is standing in front of the Declaration of Independence, rather than it just showing his face.
But here’s the part I don’t get — the one thing Trump specifically highlights about the new passport is how it says “Welcome, but be good!”
This is widely being picked up by other media sources, as if that phrase somehow makes sense, but I can’t actually figure out the logic!
Why is “welcome, but be good” written on a passport?
Can someone come up with a theory as to why a United States issued passport would have “welcome, but be good” written on it?
One would assume that message would be intended for immigrants and visitors, welcoming them, but telling them to behave. But this is a passport issued to United States citizens — those aren’t people who are being welcomed to the United States, and they aren’t people that have to “be good” (even if you’re “bad,” you go to jail, but it’s not like you get deported).
So is Trump instead welcoming us to foreign countries with our US passports, and telling us to behave there?That doesn’t strike me as a very “America First” agenda, so I wouldn’t expect that from him.
And I’ve officially run out of ideas, so if anyone can chime in with what their best theory is, I’d certainly appreciate it. I’d assume that Trump and his administration understand that US passports are issued to US citizens. I could understand this if that message were somehow written on US visas issued to foreigners, but that’s not what’s happening here.
Bottom line
Trump’s new “patriotic passport” will soon be available, to commemorate the United States’ 250th birthday. It includes a picture of Trump in front of the Declaration of Independence, and Trump also claims that it will have the phrase “welcome, but be good” written on it.
That literally makes zero sense to me, but I can’t imagine they’re putting something on a passport that makes zero sense, so can someone take a stab at this?
What is “welcome, but be good” supposed to mean?
I don't think the passport will literally say "welcome, but be good". He posted an image of the new passport and I can't find those words anywhere on it. I think he's saying the implication of seeing him on the passport is "welcome, but be good", which of course makes no sense but is different from it actually saying that on the passport
@ Alex -- Yeah, he posted a picture just of two pages, so I assumed it was written somewhere else. But I suspect your explanation may be correct.
He put something in quotes that shouldn't have been in quotes, because it's not actually in the passport, but even that doesn't make any sense.
I like it. On the right side, an artist's representation of the white males who signed the Declaration of Independence. Hunched over on the other side, needing a table to support himself, is the elderly white man who has turned his back on it. Notice his diseased hand is masked by a light from . . . somewhere. The light doesn't reach that side of his face, which is darker.
George Orwell was absolutely correct when he penned the books:
Animal Farm and 1984 ….
Brainwashing North Korea style.
Nowhere does it say “welcome but be good”. President Trump is saying that the design/intention of the passport is “welcome, but be good”. You all suffer from terminal TDS. Sad!
@ Dirk -- Okay, that directly contradicts what Trump says, but let's go with that. What does that intention actually mean for US citizens? Where should we be "welcome" and "be good?"
I’m not suggesting Trump’s message is on point. What I’m mocking is that some hysterical folks—apparently many—run with the idea that it’s written on passports without any proof whatsoever, nor with the ability to understand his statement can be taken metaphorically.
@ Dirk -- Again, I won't even debate you on how Trump literally said that's what the passport says, and he put it in quotes. If what you're saying is true, that seems like really bad communication. My question is still simple -- what is the metaphorical meaning of this to be placed on US passports? It's really not a complicated question.
@Ben. For the decade that Trump has dominated political discourse, anyone paying attention knows he never misses a chance to pontificate about immigration, often rambles and exaggerates. The majority of voters didn’t seem to mind. His term will end in 2028 (probably) and maybe we’ll get the much bigger challenge of interpreting President Kamala. Cheers!
@ Dirk -- Then I think we're on the same page, if we just agree this is nonsensical drivel that has nothing to do with passports. I'm just confused why he didn't make it a quote about the rigged election, or something.
Please let this be just for 2026 and not 2027 too.
What a great way for MAGA incels to identify themselves to foreign immigration and law enforcement officials, so that they can be tracked and locked up by foreign governments for their misdeeds abroad.