Trump's team is pushing for a $250 bill with his face on it, report says

Trump admin unveils design for 250-foot arch in Washington

Official design renderings for the president’s controversial 250-foot arch were shared on Friday. 

WASHINGTON - Officials in the Trump administration are reportedly pushing to create a $250 bill bearing President Donald Trump’s image, according to four current and former employees, according to the Washington Post.

If approved, it would mark the first time in more than 150 years that a living individual appeared on U.S. currency. 

Trump’s team pushing for $250 bill with his image

Big picture view:

Beginning last year, Treasury Department political appointees — including U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach and senior adviser Mike Brown — repeatedly encouraged staff at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to develop sample designs for the proposed bill, the employees said, according to The Post. 

U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach with Representative Andy Barr with mock up of $250 bill with President Donald Trump's image. (Credit: Andy Barr/X)

The employees said the requests sparked concern among staff members because federal law currently permits only deceased individuals to be depicted on U.S. currency. The employees spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution.

What they're saying:

In a statement, a Treasury Department spokesperson told The Post the printing office "is conducting appropriate planning and due diligence" in response to the proposed legislation.

"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 statement said.

Designs created for $250 bill with Trump’s face

The backstory:

Beach in August and September provided bureau staff with mock-up designs for the note, including one that showed Trump’s face in the center of the $250 bill between the signatures of the president and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, according to one of the employees and records reviewed by The Post.

The artist who said he designed the mock-up told The Post that he had spoken with Trump about it. British painter Iain Alexander said Trump endorsed changes to his original design, such as adding the colors of the American flag and a logo commemorating the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding.

RELATED: New passports featuring Trump’s image unveiled by State Department

Congressman Andy Barr, representative of Kentucky, confirmed in January that he met with Beach on his proposal to put Trump on the bill.

"America is turning 250—and it’s time to make more history!," Barr said on X, adding, "Today, I met with @TreasurerBeach on my proposal to put President Donald Trump on a new $250 bill." 

He added, "Let’s honor 250 years of American greatness by celebrating the President who put America First!" 

Efforts coincide with 250th anniversary celebrations

Dig deeper:

No living person has appeared on U.S. currency since 1866, when it was outlawed after the image of a mid-level Treasury bureaucrat showed up on a 5-cent note.

The effort to make a $250 note also coincides with the Trump administration’s plans to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s founding starting this July.

RELATED: Final design for Trump commemorative gold coin approved

In March, a federal arts commission also approved the design for a 24-karat gold commemorative coin that will bear Trump’s image to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.

Federal law states no living president can appear on U.S. currency, but Megan Sullivan, the acting chief of the Office of Design Management at the Mint, said the Treasury secretary has the authority to allow minting and the issuance of certain coins.

There have only been two living U.S. presidents who had a commemorative coin made with their likeness on it and that includes Trump and President Calvin Coolidge.

Coolidge’s face was featured with an image of President George Washington overlaid on a commemorative coin that marked the nation’s sesquicentennial in 1926, according to a Washington Post report.