By Danny Westneat – Seattle Times columnist
When the Trump administration plastered his name on signs in Seattle taking credit for an infrastructure project he had fought bitterly against, I called it a “sign of the shameless times” and “a new level of Orwellian.”
That was naive. He was of course just getting revved up.
Now comes the news that President Trump’s glaring visage will be featured on America the Beautiful access cards for, of all things, the national parks.
“Blotting out the majesty of America’s national parks with a closeup of his own face is Trump’s crassest, most ego-driven action yet,” says Kieran Suckling, director of the environmental group Center for Biological Diversity.
The 2026 America the Beautiful pass features George Washington and President Donald Trump. (screenshot via Department of Interior)
The 2026 America the Beautiful pass features George Washington and President Donald Trump. (screenshot via Department of Interior)
It was wise that he put a “yet” on the end of that quote. Because on the same day, the Trump administration opened for sale another card, the Trump Gold Card, in which for $1 million, wealthy foreigners can buy a card to gain priority immigration access to the U.S. This card features Trump’s photo along with the Statue of Liberty.
For $1 million, wealthy foreigners can get the Trump Gold Card, featuring President Donald Trump and the Statue of Liberty, and gain priority immigration access to the U.S. (screenshot via trumpcard.gov)
For $1 million, wealthy foreigners can get the Trump Gold Card, featuring President Donald Trump and the Statue of Liberty, and gain priority immigration… (screenshot via trumpcard.gov) – continued on page 2 or here.