Inside The Trump Push To Put Him On U.S. Currency

The Trump administration reportedly wants federal printing staff to look at creating a commemorative $250 bill featuring President Donald Trump, according to The Washington Post. The new bill adds to the growing debate about how closely America’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebrations are becoming about the president himself.

U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach and adviser Mike Brown provided mock-ups of the bill to bureau staff last year. One design apparently had Trump’s portrait between the signatures of the president and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Reportedly, political appointees inside the Treasury Department repeatedly encouraged the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to prepare prototypes of the note. They did this even though federal law doesn't allow living people to appear on U.S. currency.

The push for the bill comes as the White House prepares for the “America 250” birthday celebrations.

The scheduled events for the anniversary include plans for a UFC fight on the White House lawn, a proposed 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery and commemorative passports featuring Trump’s portrait and signature.

And now. there may be a new bill too.

Current federal law allows only deceased individuals to appear on American currency. If Trump was to appear on the currency, Congress would need to pass new legislation before any such bill could legally move forward.

“A $250 note is not statutorily authorized,” Larry Felix, who is the former Bureau of Engraving and Printing, said. “The secretary has to be given authority to do that.”

The proposal for the Trump bill reportedly caused friction inside the bureau, where longtime staff warned Treasury officials that designing a new note would take years.

They told them that they would need to work with the Federal Reserve, Secret Service and private-sector banking partners to make a new bill possible.

Staff had warned them of the challenges of introducing new currency, but it seem as if the Trump administration will be pushing ahead despite this.

“She had told them we’re not authorized to do this,” one employee said of bureau director Patricia “Patty” Solimene. “Currency often takes six to eight years to produce a new bill, particularly one of such high value.”

Solimene, a 24-year Army veteran and the bureau’s first female director, was later reassigned. In a farewell email, she wrote that the move was “not my choice.”

“The buck stopped here,” Solimene added.

British artist Iain Alexander shared that he designed one of the mock-ups and that Trump personally reviewed the artwork. The president even suggested changes including American flag colors and a “250” anniversary logo.

“He likes to call me his favorite British artist,” Alexander said.

Alexander also claimed Trump “absolutely loved” the design after offering feedback.

The proposed bill is reportedly part of a broader branding strategy which is part of the America 250 celebration campaign. The administration has already announced plans for a massive UFC event at the White House on Trump’s 80th birthday next month.

Trump recently said demand for tickets was overwhelming.

“I have never seen anybody want anything so much as people want those tickets,” the president said. “That’s gonna be something.”