President Donald Trump’s face could soon appear on U.S. currency—a move that would break a 150-year precedent—after his administration officials pushed the Treasury Department to design a $250 bill featuring his portrait, according to verified reports from multiple sources.
The push, led by Trump appointees at the Treasury, has sparked legal and logistical hurdles, with experts warning the project could take years to materialize—and may never happen without congressional approval. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) has already begun printing $100 bills with Trump’s signature, a first for a sitting president.
Who’s Behind the Plan—and Why a $250 Bill?
At the center of the effort are two Trump loyalists: U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach, a former Georgia state senator who promoted false claims about the 2020 election, and his senior adviser, Mike Brown. According to The Washington Post, the pair repeatedly pressured BEP staff to create mock-ups of a $250 bill bearing Trump’s face—despite a federal law banning living individuals from appearing on U.S. currency. The $250 denomination was chosen to align with the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations, though experts say the project is legally and practically dead without Congress’s approval.
The mock-up, obtained by The Post, features Trump’s portrait alongside the words “250 AMERICA.” British artist Iain Alexander, who designed it, told the newspaper that Trump “absolutely loved it” and even pitched a “women’s liberation” theme for the reverse side, featuring Revolutionary War flagmaker Betsy Ross. Alexander, whom Trump calls his “favorite British artist,” said the president enthusiastically backed the concept.
But the project hit resistance almost immediately. Patricia “Patty” Solimene, the BEP’s director, warned the appointees that the note wasn’t authorized and could take years to produce. Insiders told The Post that Solimene, the first woman to lead the agency, was reassigned in late April—just days before she sent a farewell email stating, “The buck stopped here.” Brown, who took over her role, has since been handed her old position.
The Legal and Logistical Catch-22
The Thayer Amendment, passed in 1866, explicitly bans living individuals from appearing on U.S. currency, bonds, or other financial notes. The last time a living person’s likeness graced U.S. money was in 1866—when a Treasury official named Spencer Clark illegally put his own face on a note meant to honor William Clark of the Lewis & Clark expedition. The law remains in place today, and the Treasury’s own spokesperson confirmed to The Post that Brandon Beach “never asked staff to print the bill before congressional passage”—a critical admission given the project’s legal limbo.
Yet the push persists. In February 2025, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) introduced legislation to create a Trump $250 bill, sharing a mock-up on social media. Meanwhile, Democrats have introduced bills to block Trump’s face from appearing on currency, with Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) proposing legislation in April to bar Trump’s signature from the greenback. The irony? The BEP is already printing $100 bills with Trump’s signature—a first for a sitting president—after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signed off on the project to “recognize the country’s historic achievements,” according to the Treasury.
But the $250 bill faces even steeper obstacles. The BEP told The Post it’s “conducting appropriate planning and due diligence,” but former director Larry R. Felix warned that a $250 note is “not statutorily authorized” without an act of Congress. Even if Congress approves it, currency production is a slow, meticulous process. One BEP employee told Yahoo that the appointees “think you can just print something overnight” but insisted it “takes years and years and years” to ensure notes are reliable for ATMs and circulation.
What’s Already Happening—and What’s Next
While the $250 bill remains stuck in bureaucratic limbo, Trump’s influence on U.S. currency is already expanding. The BEP confirmed to The Post that it’s printing $100 bills with Trump’s signature—a move that bypasses the Thayer Amendment’s living-person ban since signatures aren’t considered “likeness.” The first of these bills are rolling off the presses in Washington, D.C., marking the first time a sitting president’s signature has appeared on U.S. cash.
- Congressional approval: Without a legislative mandate, the BEP cannot proceed. Lawmakers have floated bills both for and against the idea, but no action has been taken.
- BEP’s production timeline: Even with approval, currency design and testing can take six to eight years. The $250 bill would likely miss the 2026 anniversary unless fast-tracked.
- Public and political backlash: Democrats have already introduced measures to block Trump’s face on currency, and legal scholars warn the project could face constitutional challenges.
The Treasury’s spokesperson emphasized that the BEP is only “moving proactively” in case Congress acts, but the reality is stark: this is a political project with no clear path forward. As one BEP insider told The Daily Beast, “These guys think you can just print something overnight. It’s just crazy.”
Why This Matters—and What Comes Next
The Trump $250 bill isn’t just about currency—it’s a symbol. If it ever materializes, it would be the first time a living president’s face has appeared on U.S. money since the law was passed to prevent such abuses. But the project also exposes deeper tensions: the Trump administration’s willingness to bend—or break—traditions, the BEP’s role as a political football, and the blurred line between commemoration and propaganda.
For now, the $250 bill remains a pipe dream. The $100 bills with Trump’s signature, however, are already in circulation—a quiet but significant shift in how America’s money reflects its politics. Whether the $250 bill ever sees the light of day depends on Congress, the courts, and the next administration. But one thing is clear: the era of Trump on currency has already begun.
For more on the legal hurdles, see The Washington Post’s investigation. For the artist’s perspective, read The Daily Beast’s report.
