Treasury Plans Trump Signature on U.S. Paper Currency/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The U.S. Treasury plans to add President Donald Trump’s signature to new paper currency. The move marks the first time a sitting president’s signature appears on U.S. bills. The decision has sparked political debate amid economic concerns and rising costs.
Trump Signature on U.S. Currency + Quick Looks
- Treasury to add Trump signature to new bills
- First sitting president signature on paper currency
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signature also included
- Plan tied to America’s 250th anniversary celebration
- Critics cite rising costs and political symbolism
- Commemorative gold coin with Trump image approved
- Legal authority may rest with Treasury Secretary
- More than $2 trillion currently in circulation
Deep Look: Treasury Plans Trump Signature on U.S. Currency
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Treasury Department announced Thursday that President Donald Trump’s signature will appear on all newly printed U.S. paper currency, marking an unprecedented move in American monetary history.
Traditionally, U.S. banknotes carry the signatures of the Treasury Secretary and the U.S. Treasurer, not the sitting president. The Treasury’s decision would make Trump the first sitting president to have his signature printed on American paper money.
The announcement represents the latest example of Trump placing his name on national institutions and symbols. The administration has already renamed the U.S. Institute of Peace, the Kennedy Center performing arts venue, and introduced a new class of battleships bearing Trump-related honors.
The Treasury Department said the initiative is part of broader efforts to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, which will be celebrated on July 4. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s signature will continue to appear on the currency alongside Trump’s name.
“There is no more powerful way to recognize the historic achievements of our great country,” Bessent said in a statement, “than with U.S. dollar bills bearing President Trump’s name.”
The announcement also comes as supporters push to feature Trump’s likeness on a commemorative coin. Earlier this month, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts approved the final design for a 24-karat gold coin featuring Trump’s image to mark the nation’s 250th birthday. The commission, whose members were appointed earlier this year and largely support the president, approved the design without objection.
However, placing Trump’s likeness on currency faces legal hurdles. Federal law prohibits living presidents from appearing on U.S. currency, making the signature approach a potential workaround that avoids violating longstanding rules.
Michael Bordo, director of the Center for Monetary and Financial History at Rutgers University, said the move is likely to draw political criticism but may still fall within legal boundaries.
“It will undoubtedly face political pushback,” Bordo said, noting that the Treasury Secretary likely has authority over who signs currency. “I do not know if he has crossed any legal red lines.”
The authority for designing and issuing paper currency dates back to 1862, when Congress authorized the Treasury Department to print “greenbacks” to finance the Civil War. Today, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing produces U.S. paper currency, while the U.S. Mint manufactures coins.
According to the Federal Reserve, more than $2 trillion in U.S. paper currency is currently in circulation, meaning future bills featuring Trump’s signature could become widely distributed nationwide and globally.
Democrats quickly criticized the move, arguing that it comes at a time when Americans are dealing with rising costs. Economic concerns have grown following the war with Iran, which began on Feb. 28 and contributed to higher oil prices and increased costs for consumers.
Rep. Shontel Brown, D-Ohio, criticized the decision on social media Thursday, calling the move “gross and un-American.”
“But at least it will remind us who to thank when we pay more for gas, goods, and groceries,” Brown wrote.
Supporters of the plan defended the decision. U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach said including Trump’s signature on U.S. currency is both appropriate and deserved.
“Printing President Trump’s signature on American currency is not only appropriate, but also well deserved,” Beach said in a statement.
Beyond politics, experts say the move could eventually create collectible currency. Bordo noted that bills bearing Trump’s signature could gain historical significance.
“It also means that many years from now those bills will be collectors’ items,” Bordo said.
While the timeline for introducing the redesigned currency remains unclear, the Treasury Department’s announcement signals another symbolic shift in how presidential influence may appear in American public life.
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