The Treasury Department has announced it is ready to produce a new commemorative $250 bill bearing President Donald Trump’s image, contingent on the passage of proposed legislation changing current restrictions on living persons appearing on US currency.
Currently, federal law prohibits living individuals from being depicted on US notes and securities, a restriction dating back to 1866 with the Thayer Amendment. This rule followed a controversy over a Treasury official’s portrait on currency, aiming to avoid similar situations in the future. The legislation under consideration would create an exception specifically for former presidents, allowing Trump to appear on the special issue recognizing the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, speaking at a recent press conference, confirmed the department’s readiness to move forward if Congress authorizes the change. He emphasized the two main mandates overseeing US currency: the prohibition on images of living persons, and the requirement to feature the phrase “In God We Trust.” The new bill would amend only the former.
This $250 note would be a historic first in over 160 years, positioning Trump as the first living person to appear on US paper money. Meanwhile, Trump’s likeness is already planned for commemorative coins and appears on other symbolic items, including a high-value commemorative visa card and banners at federal buildings. Additionally, his signature will be printed on forthcoming currency, a departure from tradition where only Treasury officials’ signatures are used.
Bessent defended the idea of placing Trump’s image on the bill, arguing it is fitting for a former president to be featured on a currency commemorating a national milestone. The Treasury Department did not provide further comment beyond the Secretary’s statements.