President Donald Trump could reportedly potentially become the first living person featured on U.S. currency since the 19th century, according to a new report detailing efforts inside the administration to explore the creation of a commemorative $250 bill bearing the president’s image.
The report, published Thursday by The Washington Post’s Jonathan O’Connell and citing four current and former administration officials, said internal discussions and mockup designs for the proposed banknote have already been circulating among some Treasury Department figures.
According to the report, U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach and senior adviser Mike Brown have been leading the push for the idea, encouraging employees at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to begin work on prototype concepts featuring Trump’s portrait.
The proposal would break with a longstanding federal prohibition barring living individuals from appearing on American currency, a rule that has existed since 1866. The restriction was reportedly enacted after Treasury official Spencer Clark placed his own likeness on currency that had originally been intended to honor William Clark of the famed Lewis and Clark expedition.
The reported efforts have sparked concerns among some employees because the legal obstacles remain substantial. According to The Washington Post, Beach and Brown pushed back against warnings from officials who said any such currency redesign would likely take years and require congressional action before becoming reality.
The Treasury Department defended the preliminary work, however, arguing that officials are simply preparing in case legislation authorizing the commemorative bill ultimately becomes law.
“Should this legislative mandate be signed into law, the BEP is moving proactively to produce a $250 commemorative note which will appropriately recognize the 250th Anniversary of our great nation,” the department said in a statement.
Treasury officials also emphasized that Beach never instructed employees to actually print or circulate the currency before Congress approved legislation permitting it.
The idea itself is not entirely new. In February 2025, Rep. Joe Wilson introduced legislation proposing the creation of Trump-themed bills. Wilson later shared a mockup online featuring the president’s likeness prominently displayed on the front of the note.
British artist Iain Alexander said he created one of the mockups and claimed Trump had personally reviewed the design and even offered suggestions.
“He likes to call me his favorite British artist,” Alexander reportedly said.
Even supporters of the proposal, however, have reportedly encountered resistance from career officials warning that currency development is a lengthy and highly technical process that cannot simply be accelerated through political enthusiasm alone.
One employee reportedly expressed frustration with the pace being demanded by some officials.
“These guys think you can just print something overnight and it’s going to work in an ATM. It’s just crazy,” the employee said. “It takes years and years and years to produce these notes so they are reliable for the public.”
The unusual proposal highlights how Trump’s political brand continues to blur the line between symbolism, policy and personality-driven politics in ways that few modern presidents have attempted. Supporters see the effort as a patriotic tribute tied to the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary, while critics inside the bureaucracy appear more focused on the legal and logistical hurdles involved.
For now, the proposed $250 bill remains only a concept tied to legislation that has not yet become law. But the discussions themselves reflect how deeply Trump’s influence continues shaping conversations inside Washington — not only politically, but increasingly culturally as well.
[READ MORE: Treasury Looking Into $250 Bill For America’s Birthday]
