U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday that the Treasury is preparing a new $250 banknote featuring Donald Trump [1].
The move would mark the first time in over 100 years that a living person appears on U.S. currency [2]. Because current federal law prohibits the use of living persons on banknotes, the proposal requires a legislative change to proceed [1].
The new bill is intended to feature both the portrait and the signature of the former president [3]. This would introduce a denomination that does not currently exist in the U.S. monetary system [1].
Bessent said the Treasury is moving forward with these designs as part of a broader plan to update currency [1]. The proposal deviates from long-standing tradition where only deceased figures are memorialized on legal tender [2].
Implementing the change would involve a coordinated effort between the Treasury Department and Congress to amend the statutes governing the Bureau of Engraving and Printing [1]. The Treasury has not yet specified a timeline for the bill's official release, or the specific legislative path it will take to secure the necessary legal changes [3].
“The Treasury is preparing a new $250 banknote that would feature former President Donald Trump’s portrait and signature.”
The introduction of a living political figure on U.S. currency represents a significant departure from established American numismatic tradition. By seeking a change in federal law, the Treasury is attempting to break a century-old precedent, potentially shifting the purpose of banknotes from historical memorials to contemporary political recognition.
