Today's Edition
WASHINGTON (AFP)
President Donald Trump could soon appear on a new $250 bill, in the Republican's latest move to put his personal stamp on national institutions.
A proposal for the new bill, featuring a glaring Trump, was first reported on Thursday by the Washington Post.
If carried out, it would be the first time the image of a living person -- let alone a president -- had appeared on US currency in a century and a half.
"Right now there is proposed legislation -- front of the House, in front of the Senate -- to change the first requirement so that a living person, Donald J. Trump, could be on a $250 bill," US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told a media briefing on Thursday.
"I don't think that there's anything untoward about having the President of the United States, the person who's president of the United States, on the 250th anniversary bill," Bessent said.
He said the Treasury Department has made advance preparations if legislation were passed, but "will stick to the law."
A Treasury spokeswoman told AFP that the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is "conducting appropriate planning and due diligence" in response to the proposal.
She added that US Treasurer Brandon Beach had not asked staff to print the note before congressional action occurred.
Earlier this year the US Commission of Fine Arts unanimously approved the minting of a commemorative "Semiquincentennial Gold Coin" made of 24-carat gold.
Legislation to allow Trump to appear on a $250 bill was introduced in Congress last year but has sat idle.
