Washington, D.C. — May 28, 2026: In one of the most talked-about announcements to come out of the White House this week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed on Thursday that the Treasury Department has already prepared designs for a new $250 bill featuring President Donald Trump's face — and is waiting for Congress to pass the legislation needed to make it legal. If approved, Trump would become the first living person to appear on U.S. currency in over 150 years.

What Bessent Said at the White House Briefing

During a press briefing at the White House, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the bill was a proactive measure. "As Treasury secretary, I have two mandates for U.S. currency at present: that no living person can be on U.S. currency and the currency must say, 'In God We Trust.' So right now, there is proposed legislation, the front of the House in front of the Senate, to change the first requirement so that a living person, Donald J. Trump, could be on the $250 bill."

Bessent added: "At Treasury we prepare things in advance, so we have prepared in advance that if the legislation is passed — but we will stick to the law." He emphasized there was nothing improper about the preparations, noting he didn't think there was anything "untoward" about having the president who was in office during the country's 250th anniversary appear on the bill.

The Legislation Behind the $250 Bill

Republican lawmakers want a $250 bill featuring President Trump for the nation's 250th anniversary celebration, but the proposal faces legal and legislative hurdles. Federal law bars living people from appearing on U.S. currency — a prohibition that has been in place since 1866.

Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC) introduced the "Donald J. Trump $250 Bill Act," which would direct the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to design and print a $250 bill bearing Trump's image, while also creating an exemption to the 19th-century legislation banning living figures on currency — allowing individuals who have served as President to appear on currency.

For more background on how U.S. currency design rules and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing work, the Federal Reserve's official currency FAQ provides a clear explainer on the legal framework governing American banknotes.

What Would the $250 Bill Actually Look Like?

A mock-up design of the proposed $250 bill features the president's face and signature, which administration officials provided to Bureau of Engraving and Printing staff as early as August 2025. Trump administration officials have pushed the office tasked with printing the nation's money to move forward with designing a commemorative $250 bill with President Donald Trump's portrait and signature, should legislation to create the new currency pass, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions.

The Legal and Historical Hurdles

After a then-living Treasury official, Spencer Clark, appeared on a note and caused public uproar, Congress in 1866 prohibited the portrait or likeness of any living person on currency notes, bonds, or securities. A separate piece of U.S. Code specifies the denominations of notes — $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 and so on — and does not include a $250 bill.

Wilson's legislation has shown little movement, and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing has noted that banknote development can take years of testing — meaning Americans are likely a long way away from carrying Trump dollars in their wallets.

Part of a Broader Pattern

The $250 bill is part of a larger trend of Trump putting his mark on government buildings, institutions, and materials — some in an effort to commemorate America's 250th birthday. There's the possibility of a new commemorative passport with Trump's face, a commemorative coin, and a National Parks pass. In Washington, Trump's face looms on a banner over the Justice Department, and his name was added to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Earlier in 2026, the Treasury Department announced Trump's signature would appear on all new printed money — a departure from the tradition of signatures from the treasury secretary and the treasurer — making him the first sitting president to have his signature on U.S. currency.