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?
NYT now reporting that this is in fact not an opt-in but choice at all but rather the default passport received by anyone applying at the Washington Passport Agency. Only way to opt out is to request a passport with extra pages; there is no option to request a standard length normal passport.
lol at these hysterical, pearl clutching comments. When has "being good" been confusing or controversial.
Sometimes, Ben, all you can do is scratch your head and say, "WTF???"
Not trying to be political, but I honestly thought that in his picture he was using a walker. I guess that his fists are on a desk?
This is all I can see:
https://share.gemini.google/0NWtjkgIMSyq
It's giving "get off my lawn!"
Maybe he's confused about how passports work and thinks these are going to visitors. That would make the sentence make sense... Just kidding, sort of.
Does the guy on the passport look welcoming?
Not in the least! He looks like he's about to shout to the entire Congress, "You're FIRED!"
Just stay a little bit longer.... ( Jackson Brown),.. For all that have served this nation I thank you and hope we together we can repair every thing.
IS IT NOT IRONIC THAT A DRAFT EVADER CREATES A "PATRIOTIC" PASSPORT.
DOES IT INVALIDATE THE PASSPORT TO WRITE "DELUSIONAL NARCISSIST" OVER HIS IMAGE AND TO WRITE "GROPER" BELOW HIS SIGNATURE?
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!
If you don’t understand Trump’s personality by now (10+ years), then just give up and wait for the next president
Counting down the days, bud…
I'm confused. The only people who would want this passport never leave the country.
They can’t afford a passport
@Jordan
But neither can you.
Mine says "Grab 'em by the pussy."
“When you’re a star… they let you do it…”
(Honestly, that, and the mocking the disabled reporter, should’ve been disqualifying enough, way back then; and, of course J6, thereafter, but, nope, this till 2029… or…)
I’m grateful mine doesn’t expire until 2033
As long as you don't show up in the passport office in DC you're supposed to be safe from it. I'm requesting my new passport ONLINE when I get home in two weeks as I'm approaching the 9.5 years point when it becomes effectively useless.
Ohhhhh....he looks like such a hard ass.
Can someone come up with a theory as to why a United States issued passport would have “welcome, but be good” written on it?
Simple - that's for the millions of foreigners who receive US citizenship every year
Then you’d put that on the cert of naturalization, not the passport
The only ones who would request this passport would be some of the White South African refugees…
Well that is some big news. Per DHS the United States naturalized 818,500 people who are now US citizens eligible for passports. The United States between 2010 through 2019 naturalized an average of 730,100 people a year.
https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship-resource-center/naturalization-statistics
A foreign national seeking Asylum is not eligible for a US passport. US nationals that are not citizens (mostly consisting of American Samoa ) do qualify for a passport.
This particular passport is only available if you apply in person at one particular office in Washington, D.C., and it's only available for a limited time.
I doubt many, if any, of those 818,500 people will apply for one.
lol, Never a dull moment. I'm just along for the ride, looking for points and miles
“Be good!”
-Child-Trafficking Convicted Rapist
But, but… her laugh… /s
@TravelinPenis
Don't be so hard on yourself. I'm sure your mother still loves you...
Is this the same ‘John’ that asks why I haven’t … yet?
"The U.S.A.’s New Passport, which says, “Welcome, but be good!” President DJT"
He seems to genuinely not understand what a US Passport is or who it is for. He's clearly confusing this with a Visa that a foreign national would need to obtain to enter the US.
What they know is that much of their base, most of whom don't have passports, won't make the "distinction" but will love the phrase.
It's just an imperfect way to get the phrase into the convo.
Be Best
This passport is the best way to get a visit the longest line when entering another country and get a free cavity search..MAGAs will enjoy the special treatment.
Given we are entering an era with no passport stamping, it's unlikely that any agent looking at it will go past the page with your picture on it. Since you have to seek this version out to get, I'll never have to look at the picture of Trump soiling himself.
I miss the days where Melania's bloopers were the main embarrassment of our administration.
I’ve vehemently disagreed with presidents (from both parties) in the past, but felt comforted by the fact that their worst impulses were constrained by other branches of government, the professional bureaucracy, and the competence of their own advisors.
This man is clearly surrounded by nothing but incompetent sycophants willing to give this demented old cretin anything his addled brain cooks up.
Agree
Talk about a vanity project. Revolting. Why would ANYONE want a passport featuring the current president, regardless of who he/she is?!!
Thankfully, when I need a new passport, Trump will already be in prison, and this will be gone.
“Be good”?
If only he would follow his own advice.
His guy who teleported to Waffle House can probably explain it.
Thank goodness FEMA official Gregg Phillips was actually removed from his role, following that bat-sh*t-crazy-nonsense.
And in eight years when Americans show their passport to a 20 year old check in person at a hotel in Europe that 20 year old will neither know nor care who the old man is.
12 year olds all over Europe know who the Tango President is.
You are over analyzing things by asking why. He is dementia-riddled and probably said something like this in a meeting (or maybe in his sleep during a meeting), and then his cadre of yes-men and yes-women said “Great idea dear leader we are so lucky to have you come up with this idea!” and then it got printed.
Dementia-riddled….sounds like Biden with various sycophants repeating “he’s in the best health ever”…I’m sure you were consistent and principled to call out Joe Biden at the time…
I did. I also thought he did the Democrats dirty by running for reelection - and Democratic leadership's hail mary with Kamala was a bad idea.
Believe it or not, some of us are capable of abstract thought and not tribalistic impulses.
Backwards like everything else from this administration. When it starts to make sense you're in real trouble
One Mile Always About Trump
The thing that comes to mind is that it is intended to immigrants that become US citizens and hence receive their first US passport. Welcome as a US citizen but behave yourself.
I wake up each morning, thinking he can't top himself in stupidity today, and, then, he does.
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.
That makes a tiny bit more sense, except the only thing he looks like is that he's doubled over in pain trying to hold in a dookie??
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.
Ross is being politically incorrect in failing to credit Thomas Jefferson for Hispanic ancestry.
George Orwell was absolutely correct when he penned the books:
Animal Farm and 1984 ….
Brainwashing North Korea style.
@AeroB13a, I love Animal Farm more so than 1984 but here's that famous line from the latter with the applicable party in parenthesis: "The (Republican) Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command."
Pretty sure this applies to both parties
Ricky, Justin,
I find it extremely difficult not to attribute the writings of George Orwell, to most political parties of many countries around the world today.
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.
LOL, "Welcome to America, home of the VERY UNFAIR AND RIGGED 2020 election. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER."
@Ben, Ben, Ben - bad communication from Trump? You must be mistaken. HAHAHAHAHA
Please let this be just for 2026 and not 2027 too.
Don't worry. You still get one without that ugly mug through normal channels.
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.
Exactly. Let them face open discrimination.
Certainly no way to maximise one's chance of getting a front-desk room-upgrade at most hotels in Europe.