The U.S. Department of the Treasury could mint a coin featuring Trump's likeness

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has confirmed that it is considering minting a one-dollar coin featuring the likeness of President Donald Trump, as part of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the country's independence.

The proposal, however, is already generating controversy due to what many consider an attempt to personalize a national commemoration and use it to serve the presidential figure.

The idea came to light after the U.S. Treasurer, Brandon Beach, shared the first drafts of the design on the social media platform X. "There’s no fake news here. These initial drafts, which celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States and POTUS, are real," he affirmed.

Beach added that he hopes to share more details once the current government shutdown is over.

The first models circulated thanks to Steve Guest, a conservative communicator with experience in the Republican National Committee, who shared images of the coin on social media with a triumphant message.

"ATTENTION ALL PATRIOTS: The United States is back, and with it, the one-dollar bill. POTUS Donald Trump will forever be the face of the 250th anniversary of the United States," he said.

The publication was also supported by Scott Bessent, the Secretary of the Treasury, who reposted it on his X account.

The filtered design features the likeness of Trump beneath the word "Liberty," with an aesthetic inspired by Roman emperors. It also includes the phrase "In God We Trust," an official motto approved in 1956 and present on all the country's coins.

The obverse features the leader with a raised fist in front of an American flag, accompanied by the word "FIGHT" repeated three times, while at the bottom are the slogans "United States" and "E Pluribus Unum" (Out of many, one).

According to the Smithsonian, this last phrase was adopted in 1776 and symbolizes the union of the colonies against Great Britain, as well as the cohesion of the current 50 states. Critics of the initiative argue that directly linking that foundational spirit to the figure of Trump represents a political use of a commemoration that should serve to represent the entire nation.

A spokesman for the Treasury defended the project, stating that "under the historic leadership of President Donald J. Trump, our nation is arriving at its 250th anniversary stronger, more prosperous, and better than ever." He added that although the final design has not yet been approved, the draft "faithfully reflects the enduring spirit of our country and our democracy."

The legal framework for this issuance is based on a law approved in 2020 by Congress, during Trump's first term, which authorizes the Treasury to mint commemorative coins for the semiquincentennial. The regulations stipulate that the designs must be emblematic of the anniversary, without specifying whether they can include the image of a sitting president.

The initiative comes in a tense political context, marked by a government shutdown and an electoral campaign in which Trump seeks to reinforce his image as a historic leader.

For analysts and opponents, the plan to mint a coin with his image not only distorts the commemorative spirit of the 250th anniversary but also relegates the collective nature of American independence to the background in favor of the glorification of an individual.

Frequently asked questions about the potential minting of a coin featuring Trump’s face