US Treasury secretary confirms plans for banknote featuring Trump’s face

Proposed $250 bill would mark the first time a living person has appeared on US currency in more than a century.US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent says preparations are under way to print a new $250 banknote featuring President Donald Trump’s face, with lawmakers to decide whether the bills will be put into circulation.US law bars any living person from appearing on US currency, but legislation was introduced last year to create an exception to allow current and former presidents to be featured.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Is it legal for Trump to put his picture on US Mint dollar coin?list 2 of 3Trump to close Kennedy Center for renovations amid backlash from performerslist 3 of 3UFC fighting cage rises on White House lawn for US and Trump celebrationsend of listSpeaking at the White House on Thursday, Bessent said a design had been prepared in anticipation of a change in the law.“Right now, there is proposed legislation – 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 a $250 bill,” Bessent said.Bessent made his comments after The Washington Post reported that Treasurer Brandon Beach, a Trump appointee, has been pushing the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to expedite the process for a new currency note to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.“I don’t think that there’s anything untoward about having the president of the United States, the person who’s president of the United States, on the 250th anniversary bill,” Bessent told reporters.A design mock-up obtained by The Washington Post showed the words “America 250 anniversary”, a nod to the US declaring its independence on July 4, 1776.The Treasury Department did not immediately respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment.Behaviour of dictators, monarchsA banknote featuring Trump’s face would be the latest example of the US president expanding his personal brand in his official capacity since returning to the White House in 2025.