The image of Donald Trump could soon appear on a proposed new $250 bill in a move that would break longstanding American traditions regarding US currency.
According to a report by The Washington Post, officials appointed during the Trump administration have been exploring plans for a new high-denomination note featuring the president’s portrait alongside the inscription “America 250 anniversary,” marking the 250th anniversary of US independence in 2026.
If approved, the measure would represent the first time in more than 150 years that a living person , particularly a sitting or former president would appear on American currency.
The report stated that two Treasury Department appointees last year encouraged staff at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to prepare prototype designs for the proposed bill.
However, unnamed bureau employees reportedly expressed concerns that the proposal could violate federal law, which prohibits the depiction of living presidents on US currency.
The newspaper said Bureau of Engraving and Printing Director Patricia Solimene raised objections over legal and procedural challenges linked to the proposal before she was later reassigned from her position.
The US Treasury Department has not officially confirmed plans to issue the bill but said the bureau was carrying out “appropriate planning and due diligence” in response to legislation introduced in Congress last year seeking to authorise the note.
The proposed legislation has yet to advance significantly in Congress.
The development is the latest in a series of moves critics say reflect efforts to place Trump’s image and name more prominently on American public institutions and commemorative items.
Earlier this year, the US Commission of Fine Arts reportedly approved plans for a commemorative “Semiquincentennial Gold Coin” linked to the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
Trump’s name has also recently been associated with the rebranding of institutions including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the United States Institute of Peace.
In addition, banners featuring Trump’s likeness have appeared at federal agencies including the Departments of Justice and Agriculture.
The proposal has drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers, with Senator Mark Warner describing the idea as an attempt to “stoke the president’s ego.”
The debate over the proposed $250 bill comes amid broader political and cultural discussions over the role of presidential symbolism and tradition in the United States.
