Treasury Confirms Design for $250 Bill with Trump Image, Awaiting Congress

The Story

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday that his department has prepared the design for a $250 bill featuring President Donald Trump, anticipating the passage of stalled legislation in Congress. Bessent stated that authorizing the new currency is up to lawmakers, but that the Treasury has created the bill to be prepared. The proposal would require an exception to current federal law that prohibits any living person from appearing on U.S. currency.

Key Facts

• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed his department has prepared the design for a $250 bill featuring President Donald Trump, but said authorization depends on Congress passing legislation.
• The legislation, introduced by Representative Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), would direct the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to feature Trump on a new $250 note to mark the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding.
• Current federal law prohibits the image of any living person from appearing on U.S. currency; the Wilson bill would create an exception for current and former presidents.
• A Treasury Department spokeswoman said the agency has carried out “appropriate planning and due diligence” to implement a potential congressional mandate for a $250 commemorative note.
• The Washington Post reported that U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach, a Trump appointee, has pushed the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to expedite the process for the new currency note.
• The Post also reported that former BEP chief Patricia Solimene was reassigned after pushing back against pressure from Beach and his aide Michael Brown; the Treasury confirmed Brown became acting director of engraving and printing on May 18.
• British artist Iain Alexander told the Post he designed the bill and said he discussed it with the president.
• Bessent said the Treasury will “stick to the law” and that “it’s all up to Capitol Hill.”

Conflicting Reports

No conflicting reports identified across sources.

Still Unclear

• The Guardian reports that House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the proposal, writing on X that it was a “hard no on a Trump $250 bill” and “Get over yourself.” (Single-source claim)
• The Guardian reports that Bessent commented on the Federal Reserve and oil prices during the same news conference, including that he believed new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh would “do the right thing” and that gas and oil prices would “come down very quickly” after the US-Israel conflict in Iran ends. (Single-source claim)
• None of the sources specify the exact timeline for potential congressional action on the Wilson bill or how many votes are expected in the Senate beyond a general note from The Guardian that the bill would need 60 votes in the Senate.

Misconceptions

No widespread misconceptions addressed in the sources.

Key Figures

• Scott Bessent, U.S. Treasury Secretary
• Donald Trump, President of the United States
• Joe Wilson, U.S. Representative from South Carolina
• Brandon Beach, U.S. Treasurer
• Patricia Solimene, former Bureau of Engraving and Printing chief
• Michael Brown, acting director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
• Iain Alexander, British artist who designed the bill prototype

Sources: jamaica-gleaner.com, The Guardian, wcvb.com, ksat.com