Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent are proposing a new $250 banknote featuring the president's portrait [1, 2].
The move would mark the first time in more than 150 years that a living person has appeared on U.S. currency [3]. Because current federal law prohibits living individuals from being depicted on banknotes, the proposal would require a legislative change to proceed [1, 2].
The proposed denomination of $250 [1] is intended to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026 [1, 2]. The Treasury Department and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing are involved in the process, with reports indicating that design mock-ups have already been revealed [2].
Supporters of the initiative said the bill serves as a celebration of the country's milestone anniversary [4, 5]. The effort to place a sitting president on currency represents a significant departure from long-standing American monetary tradition.
Some reports have highlighted internal friction regarding the project. France 24 said Trump allies pressured staff at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and reassigned the director after she expressed concerns regarding federal law [3]. However, other major outlets, including The New York Times and NPR, did not mention a director's reassignment, focusing instead on the legislative requirements and the design process [1, 2].
“The move would mark the first time in more than 150 years that a living person has appeared on U.S. currency.”
This proposal challenges a century-old legal standard designed to prevent the personalization of U.S. currency. By seeking to bypass the law barring living persons from banknotes, the administration is attempting to use a national anniversary to establish a permanent visual legacy on the country's legal tender, a move that would likely trigger significant legislative and public debate over the role of currency in national commemoration.
