Scott Bessent, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, supported the proposal this Thursday to feature President Donald Trump's image on a special $250 bill, as part of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the country's independence, scheduled for July 4, 2026.
Bessent made the statements during a press conference at the White House, where he replaced Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who is on maternity leave, becoming the third high-ranking official to do so following Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The secretary was questioned about a report from the Washington Post revealing that two Treasury officials had asked agencies to prepare to print the bill featuring Trump's image.
Bessent defended the measure as a legitimate and proactive preparation, and described the newspaper article as "terribly written, terribly edited," arguing that it only depicted the Treasury acting in accordance with the law.
"As Secretary of the Treasury, I have two mandates for U.S. currency. Currently, no living person can appear on U.S. bills and they must bear the inscription 'In God We Trust,'" Bessent stated.
He explained that there is proposed legislation in both the House of Representatives and the Senate to modify the first requirement. "Everything is in the hands of Capitol Hill," he stated, adding, "We are preparing for everything if it is approved, just as we were ready six months in advance for the 'one big beautiful bill' with fiscal guidance. You can’t prepare something the day before."
Regarding the political convenience of the measure, Bessent was straightforward: "I don't think there's anything inappropriate about the president of the U.S.—whoever the president may be—appearing in the bill for the 250th anniversary."
The legislative initiative was introduced by Republican Representative Joe Wilson from South Carolina, titled the "Donald J. Trump $250 Bill Act," with the support of Congress members Diana Harshbarger, Ralph Norman, and Darrell Issa.
The ban on living people appearing on U.S. currency dates back to 1866, when Congress passed a rule following the Spencer Clark scandal, an official from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing who placed his own portrait on a five-cent note in 1864. If the legislation were to succeed, Trump would be the first living person to appear on U.S. currency in 160 years.
The $250 bill is not the only commemorative measure featuring the image of the president. In March 2026, the Treasury announced that the new $100 bills will carry Trump's signature alongside Bessent's, for the first time removing the treasurer's signature since 1861.
Additionally, the State Department will launch commemorative passports featuring Trump’s image and signature in July 2026, with a limited print run of 25,000 units available at the Washington Passport Agency.
These measures have sparked a debate about the use of national symbols for personal promotion, a discussion that Bessent himself sidestepped by insisting that the final decision lies with Congress: "The president doesn't do it. The House and Senate have to do it."
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