The U.S. Treasury has designed a $250 bill featuring President Trump’s image, but the plan can’t move forward unless Congress authorizes it, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday.
Under federal law, the Treasury cannot produce currency featuring a living person.
Mr. Bessent said there is legislation introduced in Congress that would allow a living person to grace U.S. currency, but if likely will not garner the Democratic votes needed to clear the Senate.
Treasury created the bill because “we have to be prepared,” he said at the White House press briefing.
“It’s all up on Capitol Hill,” he said. “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.”
“The president doesn’t do it; the House and the Senate have to do it,” Mr. Bessent said.
The Treasury Secretary was referring to legislation introduced by Rep. Joe Wilson, South Carolina Republican, that would authorize the Treasury Department’s Bureau of Engraving and Printing to put Mr. Trump’s face on the bill to mark the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding.
Federal law stipulates that “only the portrait of a deceased individual may appear on United States currency and securities.” Mr. Wilson’s bill would amend that law by requiring the Treasury to print $250 bills that “feature a portrait of Donald J. Trump.”
The Donald J. Trump $250 Bill Act was introduced in Congress in February 2025. It was referred to the House Committee on Financial Services the same day, but has since stalled out with no action taken.
Mr. Trump has long sought to have his name or image on U.S. currency. In March, the Treasury announced that future currency would bear Mr. Trump’s signature, and in October, it said it was working on a $1 coin featuring the president’s image to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary.
A press release on Mr. Wilson’s website shows an AI design mock-up of the bill that features a color portrait of Mr. Trump on the left-hand side of the $250 bill.
New currency designs can take years to develop and are only released to the public six to eight months before the currency takes effect to prevent counterfeiting, according to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
