Note for Trump: US Treasury designs US$250 bill with president’s face

Lead

The US Treasury has confirmed it is preparing designs for a $250 banknote featuring President Donald Trump, a move that would require changing a federal law that has barred living people from appearing on US currency for over 150 years. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed the preparations during a White House press briefing, stating that the department has conducted "appropriate planning and due diligence" in anticipation of the legislation. If approved, the note would mark the first time a living person has appeared on US paper currency since 1866, when the practice was prohibited by law.

Coverage Comparison

Coverage of the story, first reported by The Washington Post, has been consistent across international outlets, though tones and emphases have varied. Multiple outlets, including ABC Australia and Al Jazeera, highlighted the historic break with tradition, with some noting that the last person to appear on US currency while alive was a Treasury Department bureaucrat in the 19th century. The Guardian, based in the UK, emphasized the political implications, reporting that the White House is pushing Congress to approve the measure. In contrast, US-focused coverage, such as that from The Washington Post itself, delved into the internal Treasury Department deliberations, including reports that senior officials urged staff at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) to prepare prototypes despite legal concerns.

Reuters, which first reported Bessent's confirmation, quoted him as saying, "We will stick to the law," while Foreign Media, as reported by TASS, noted that the Treasury was "drafting the tentative design" for the note. The proposed legislation, which would create an exception to the 1866 law, has been introduced in both the House and Senate. According to multiple reports, the bill would need to pass both chambers before the Treasury could move forward with printing.

Key Claims

• Treasury Prepared to Issue $250 Note: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that his department is prepared to design and print a $250 note featuring President Trump, contingent on congressional approval. According to reports from multiple sources, the Treasury has already begun initial planning and design work, with mock-ups reportedly shown to BEP staff.
• Legislation Pending: Republican Representative Joe Wilson has introduced legislation that would create an exception to federal law prohibiting living people from appearing on US currency. The bill, which has bipartisan opponents, would allow current and former presidents to be featured on banknotes. The legislation is currently before committees in both the House and Senate.
• Design Process Underway: The Washington Post reported that the Treasury Department, through Treasurer Brandon Beach and his senior adviser Mike Brown, urged BEP staff to prepare prototypes of the $250 note. An artist, Iain Alexander, told the Post that he had spoken with President Trump, who requested additions such as the colors of the American flag and a logo commemorating the nation's 250th anniversary.
• Legal and Procedural Hurdles: Federal law (31 U.S.C. § 5114) prohibits the use of a living person's portrait on US currency. The law has been in place since 1866, after a mid-level Treasury official appeared on a five-cent note. The BEP director, Patricia Solimene, reportedly raised concerns about the legal obstacles and was subsequently reassigned, according to reports from The Washington Post.
• Commemorative Gold Coin Approved: The US Commission of Fine Arts, whose members were appointed by Trump, has approved the design for a 24-karat gold coin featuring the president's portrait, marking the second time a living president has appeared on such a coin. The coin, minted to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, will be issued by the US Mint.

Perspectives

Supporters of the proposal argue that featuring President Trump on the $250 note is a fitting tribute to his leadership during the nation's 250th anniversary. "I don't think there's anything untoward about having the president of the United States, the person who's president of the United States, on the 250th anniversary bill," Bessent said, as quoted by multiple outlets. He added that the Treasury "will stick to the law" and that it is up to Congress to change the requirement.

Critics, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have mocked the effort. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Clinton wrote, "By the end of Trump's term, it'll be just enough to buy one gallon of gas and a carton of eggs," a quote widely reported by multiple outlets. Online reactions were largely negative, with some netizens pointing out the 1866 law and drawing comparisons to monarchies. According to a report from the Post, even some White House employees expressed concerns about the precedent, with one telling the newspaper, "This is not how we do things in a republic."

Some commentators have noted that the push to feature the president on currency fits a broader pattern of placing Trump's image and name on national institutions. Earlier this year, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the US Institute of Peace were renamed to include Trump's name, and his face adorns banners at the Department of Justice and other federal agencies. This article was written with reporting from multiple international wire services and newspapers.