Washington, D.C., March 27 (ANI) — The U.S. Treasury Department announced Thursday that President Donald J. Trump’s signature will be added to future U.S. paper currency as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary observances. The Treasury said the president’s signature will appear alongside Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent’s, calling it the first time a sitting president’s signature will be printed on U.S. paper money.
In a statement posted on the Treasury’s website, officials framed the change as a way to honor the Semiquincentennial and recognize national achievements. Secretary Bessent praised Trump’s economic stewardship, saying the addition of the president’s signature reflects ‘‘fiscal strength, economic growth and enduring dollar dominance’’ under his leadership and that issuing bills bearing the president’s name is an appropriate commemoration.
Treasurer Brandon Beach also applauded the decision, saying that as the country approaches its 250th anniversary, American currency should continue to symbolize prosperity, strength and the spirit of the people under the president’s leadership. Beach tweeted that Trump’s signature alongside Secretary Bessent’s ‘‘will soon appear on U.S. currency,’’ calling it a historic first and a lasting symbol of the president’s impact.
The announcement follows earlier steps by the Treasurer’s office. In October, Beach shared draft designs for a one-dollar commemorative coin for the Semiquincentennial that featured Trump imagery and inscriptions including ‘‘Liberty’’ and a separate phrase reading ‘‘Fight, Fight, Fight.’’ He said more designs would be released after a government shutdown.
Media reports have highlighted legal and political questions surrounding the move. CNN reported that federal law generally prohibits depicting living persons on circulating currency and that a person may be featured on a coin no sooner than two years after their death, though sitting presidents have appeared on commemorative coins in the past. CNN also noted that a Commission of Fine Arts panel approved a large commemorative gold coin design showing the president and is reviewing a proposed $1 coin featuring Trump; the network pointed out that the last time a sitting president appeared on a coin for a national celebration was in 1926 with President Calvin Coolidge.
Democratic lawmakers, according to reports, have introduced legislation aimed at barring any living or sitting president from being featured on U.S. currency. The proposed measures reflect concerns about departing from long-standing norms about images on government money.
(This story is based on a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility for its accuracy or completeness.) (ANI)
