The Treasury Department is preparing for the possibility of a new $250 commemorative bill featuring President Donald Trump, but the proposal cannot move forward unless Congress changes federal law.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the department is planning ahead in case lawmakers approve the legislation.
He stressed that Treasury will follow current law, which bars living people from appearing on U.S. currency.
“It’s all up on Capitol Hill,” Bessent said.
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The proposed $250 note would mark America’s 250th anniversary and would place Trump’s portrait on U.S. paper currency if Congress approves the change.
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing said it is conducting planning and due diligence in response to legislation introduced by Republican Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina.
Wilson introduced the bill in 2025, presenting it as part of the nation’s upcoming anniversary celebration and as a political rebuke of the Biden administration’s economic record.
The bill was referred to the House Financial Services Committee and has remained there.
At present, the Federal Reserve issues seven denominations: $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100.
A $250 note would therefore be a major symbolic and practical change to U.S. currency.
Bessent said two rules currently guide U.S. currency: no living person can appear on it, and the currency must include “In God We Trust.”
That legal barrier is the biggest obstacle standing between the Treasury Department’s preparation and the bill becoming reality.
Democrats quickly criticized the proposal, arguing that the 250th anniversary should focus on the country rather than Trump personally.
Hillary Clinton mocked the idea, suggesting that rising costs could make a $250 bill necessary for ordinary purchases.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries rejected the proposal and said the anniversary should celebrate the American journey rather than one political figure.
Sen. Mark Warner also criticized the plan, arguing that Trump should focus more on lowering costs for families than creating new currency with his image.
The Democratic National Committee used the proposal to accuse Republicans of prioritizing Trump-themed projects over issues such as prices, foreign policy and immigration enforcement.
Supporters of the idea argue that Trump’s presidency is central to the country’s 250th anniversary moment and that a commemorative note would be a patriotic tribute.
Critics see it as an attempt to use federal currency to promote a sitting president’s personal legacy.
The Treasury Department has also previously announced that Trump’s signature would appear on future U.S. paper currency alongside Bessent’s signature in honor of the anniversary.
For now, the $250 bill remains only a possibility.
Unless Congress passes legislation changing the law, Trump’s portrait cannot legally appear on the proposed note.
Why It Matters
The proposal combines America’s 250th anniversary with a major political fight over Trump’s image, presidential legacy and federal law. It also raises a rare question about whether Congress should change currency rules to allow a living president to appear on U.S. money.
What Comes Next
The proposal now depends on Congress. If lawmakers approve the change, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing says it is prepared to move forward with a commemorative $250 note. If the law remains unchanged, the Trump bill cannot be issued.
Bessent said Treasury is preparing for a possible $250 commemorative note featuring Trump, but the bill cannot move forward unless Congress changes federal law.
🚨 JUST IN: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent CONFIRMS the $250 bill with President Trump’s face on it is ALREADY in the works
“There is proposed legislation in front of the House, in front of the Senate to change the [law] so that a living person, Donald J. Trump, could be on a… pic.twitter.com/3BopZWyMjI
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) May 28, 2026
