President Donald J. Trump has set a precedent of making unprecedented moves. Aiming to become the first living person to appear on a U.S. bill after Congress banned the practice 160 years ago would make one more example. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Thursday announced a mockup of what a $250 commemorative bill featuring Trump’s face, designed for the nation’s 250th anniversary in July, could look like. When asked by a reporter during the press conference if this new currency was a “good idea” in the context of current high consumer prices, Bessent said he didn’t think there was “anything untoward” having Trump featured on the bill.
To make that mockup a reality, Congress would have to move to repeal what’s known as the Thayer Amendment, and Bessent noted that his department would not move forward without its consent. Already, some Congress members are chiming in. Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries said on X that he was a “hard no” on the bill. “The upcoming July 4th anniversary is not about a wannabe King. It’s about celebrating the American journey.”
