In a historic development for American currency, President Donald Trump is preparing to have his signature featured on the nation's $100 bill, marking a significant first for a sitting U.S. president. The announcement, shared by President Trump via Truth Social on Friday, revealed an image of the redesigned note, which will also bear the signature of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. This unprecedented move is set to coincide with the country's Semiquincentennial celebrations, linking the currency's update to 250 years of American independence.
The redesigned $100 bill maintains much of its classic aesthetic, with Benjamin Franklin's portrait remaining prominently on the front. The signatures of President Trump and Secretary Bessent will be placed in the bottom left corner of the bill. This initiative breaks a long-standing tradition, as no sitting president has previously had their signature appear on U.S. paper currency.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent swiftly echoed the sentiment, reposting President Trump's image and describing the timing as "only appropriate" given America's milestone anniversary. Taking to X, Bessent connected the currency update to broader claims about the nation's financial trajectory. "Under President Trump’s leadership, we are on a path toward unprecedented economic growth, lasting dollar dominance, and fiscal strength and stability," Bessent wrote. He continued, framing the signature as a fitting tribute: "There is no more powerful way to recognize the historic achievements of our great country and President Donald J. Trump than US dollar bills bearing his signature, and it is only appropriate that this historic currency be issued at the Semiquincentennial." Bessent had previously expressed similar views in March when the idea was first publicly floated.
Treasurer Brandon Beach joined the chorus of support, citing President Trump's economic record as justification for the honor. "The president’s mark on history as the architect of America’s Golden Age economic revival is undeniable," Beach stated. He further asserted that the gesture was "not only appropriate, but also well-deserved."
While a firm release date for the new $100 notes has not yet been established, standard procedure dictates that the bills must undergo printing at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing before the Federal Reserve handles distribution. This process typically spans several weeks.
Beyond the $100 bill redesign, Secretary Bessent has also advocated for a more ambitious concept: featuring President Trump's face on an entirely new $250 bill. This idea gained renewed attention in May when Bessent appeared on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures." He defended the proposal as fitting for the timing of President Trump's presidency, stating, "I think it’s fitting. President Trump is the president during our 250th anniversary."
However, the proposed $250 bill with President Trump's likeness faces a significant legal hurdle. A federal law, dating back 159 years, currently prohibits any living person from being depicted on U.S. currency. For this bill to move forward, Congress would need to pass an amendment to this existing law. Bessent has indicated that the Treasury is prepared to act should lawmakers grant approval. "It’s all up on Capitol Hill. 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," Bessent explained during a press briefing.
To bolster his argument for the $250 bill during his Fox News interview, Bessent referenced a decades-old precedent. He cited Calvin Coolidge, whose presidency coincided with a commemorative coin issued for the country's 150th birthday. "Calvin Coolidge was president during the 150th anniversary. And there was a coin printed for him," Bessent noted, concluding that the proposed $250 bill would be a "great celebratory note for a great president."
For the time being, the redesign of the $100 bill to include President Trump's signature is proceeding without legislative obstacles. In contrast, the fate of the proposed $250 bill featuring his image remains contingent upon congressional approval to amend existing federal law.
