Trump appointees push $250 banknote with his portrait
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Trump administration officials have pressed the office responsible for printing the nation’s money to design a $250 bill featuring the president’s portrait, according to four current and former employees, in what would be the first appearance of a living person on U.S. currency in more than 150 years.
The employees spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution.
As part of the effort, Beach in August and September provided bureau staff with mock-up designs for the note, including one that shows President Donald 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 Washington 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.
“He likes to call me his favorite British artist,” said Alexander, a former competitive swimmer and DJ who describes himself as a royal portrait artist of Queen Elizabeth II and others.
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. Legislation that would allow Trump to appear on a $250 bill was introduced in Congress last year to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary but has languished.
In a statement, a Treasury Department spokesperson said 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.
The director of the printing bureau, Patricia “Patty” Solimene, and other staff repeatedly explained to Beach and Brown that there were legal and procedural obstacles to producing the note and that it would take years longer than they envisioned, the four employees said.
“She had told them we’re not authorized to do this. We can’t progress any further, and all the stakeholders have not even met to discuss the next steps,” said one of the employees. “Currency often takes six to eight years to produce a new bill, particularly one of such high value.”
Solimene said she was abruptly reassigned from her post by Treasury management on April 27, writing the next day in an email to colleagues that she was leaving with a “heavy heart.” She wrote in her goodbye email, a copy of which was obtained by The Post, that she had been reassigned to another job in the Treasury Department and that her departure was “not my choice.”
She added that she “never sacrificed the values or character of myself or the organization and always prioritized the U.S. Currency Program and the value each employee brings to the mission.”
Solimene did not specify in the email why she was reassigned and did not return calls seeking comment. A 24-year Army veteran, she had been the first female director of the bureau.
Brown, formerly a senior adviser to Beach, has since been named the bureau’s acting director. He did not return messages seeking comment.
The Treasury statement said Beach has “never asked staff to print the bill before congressional passage.” The agency declined to comment on Solimene’s reassignment. The White House did not respond to requests for comment.
Solimene and her staff had consented to another administration request: to print $100 bills featuring Trump’s signature, according to the four employees. They said those bills — the first in American history to bear a sitting president’s signature — are currently being printed at the bureau’s downtown Washington facility.
“Based on the recommendation of U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach, Secretary Bessent will recognize the historic achievements of our great country and President Trump by adding his signature to the currency,” the Treasury statement said.
While no law prohibits printing bills with Trump’s signature, U.S. currency experts say that producing a $250 note featuring the president‘s image would run afoul of current laws. One states only a “deceased individual” may be depicted on American currency. Another specifies which denominations the bureau may produce.
“The secretary has to be given authority to do that,” he said, referring to Bessent.
Alexander, the artist, said he was also told legislation was required. “I’ve been informed that it has to go through Congress,” he said.
A second challenge, experts said, is that designing and printing any new note typically necessitates extensive coordination with the Federal Reserve, the Secret Service and private sector partners.
Felix said it took more than a decade to design and produce a $100 note with dozens of embedded security features that prevented counterfeiting.
Brown, a Trump appointee who started at Treasury in October, is a former Kansas Republican Party chairman.
Beach, who was appointed treasurer in March 2025 and has direct oversight of the U.S. Mint, is a former Georgia state senator who backed Trump’s 2020 election denial claims . He did not respond to messages seeking comment.
“These guys think you can just print something overnight and it’s going to work in an ATM. It’s just crazy,” said one of the employees. “It takes years and years and years to produce these notes so they are reliable for the public.”
The effort to make a $250 note coincides with the Trump administration’s plans to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s founding starting this July. Trump has proposed building a 250-foot triumphal arch at the foot of Arlington National Cemetery and a “Garden of Heroes” in Washington featuring 250 statues .
Last month the State Department announced it would begin issuing passports featuring Trump’s portrait and signature to commemorate the anniversary, a move that did not require an act of Congress.
“We can also confirm that both Treasury Secretary Bessent and President Trump have spoken with Rep. Wilson about their support for this on multiple occasions,” the statement said.
In January, Rep. Andy Barr (R-Kentucky) posted a photo on X showing him and Beach holding a mock-up of the bill with the colors of the flag and the “250” logo. Alexander, the British painter, confirmed it was a design he had created after receiving Trump’s feedback.
For the back of the note, Alexander said he proposed a theme of “women’s liberation” featuring Betsy Ross, the seamstress who made flags during the American Revolution.
Trump’s feedback? “He absolutely loved it,” Alexander said.
Alexander said in addition to the $250 note, he is also working on a much larger art project for the America 250 celebration but has had some difficulty getting regular feedback from Trump since the start of the war in Iran.
“You can appreciate all he’s got on his plate at the moment,” he said.
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Hubris mated Arrogance and begat Trump.
I could embrace that idea with a few modifications to the portrait. let your imagination run with that ...
You stop letting your imagination run away with that. You fave moderator already slapped you with a death wishing ticket.
I think they should portray him with out the benefit of hair and make-up people
Yikes, an eternal life is a far worse fate. Can I get permanently ticketed for wishing him one of those?
... one with points. no worries, I've already retaliated. AI + VPN = fun, fun, fun ...
play your cards right...
bribe the person on staff that has to maintain his bathroom to switch his shampoo with hair remover ...
maga probably won't vote for somebody that looks like a fat uncle fester ...
As I've said before, Trump is his own worst enemy.
While true, sadly he has millions of enablers who do not care what he does to them or to our nation. Apparently, he could shoot someone on 5th Ave or rape a MAGAites mother right in front of them and he'd getting nothing but big smiles and a thumbs up from his supporters. So, when he suggests putting his face on money rational people at first think "He can't do that, that's illegal" but then realize Trumps ass kissing sycophants are currently in control of congress and wouldn't put it past them to do their utmost to please their naked Emperor.
Does that mean we can expect him to shoot himself anytime soon?
meh, he'd probably fuck that up too ...
If this actually happens, what's next? Renaming America "The United States of Trump"?
Surprised he didn't go for the 10,000 note
It would be just as illegal and more on brand for such a useless dumb shit. That and the vast majority of his sycophants couldn't afford to even touch one.
uh huh
If Pete Buttigieg were to become (God forbid) president, and he proposed himself on a three dollar bill, would you support it?
Of course not, that would be illegal. The Thayer amendment prohibits any living person's portrait from appearing on U.S. bonds, securities, notes, or postal currency. Also, the 'Coin Act of 2005' prevents even a coin from being issued that bears the image of a living president, or a deceased president within two years of their death. So, the bloviating bumbling bigot bitch Donnie couldn't even put his ugly mug on the expiring penny.
Then you don't need to worry about Trump and a 250.
The poutrage is manufactured,
Why not? When has Trump ever cared about the law?
And that's not even getting into his disdain for the law as evidenced by his charity being shut down and fined for fraud, two of his businesses found guilty on 17 counts of tax fraud, his use of campaign funds to pay off porn stars during his campaign, the list of law breaking goes on and on and on.
So, this President doesn't give a fuck about the law or patriotic law-abiding Americans, he only cares for those millions of racist rats who continually gnaw at his balloon knot for sustenance and empower him to ignore the law and the constitution.
Nice rant but expected.
I went back through your posts to see where you posted "outrage" over laws broken by the Biden admin, but surprisingly s/, there was none...
From google AI
1. Unilateral Student Loan Forgiveness
Opponents argue Biden exceeded his authority by forgiving student loans without congressional approval. The Supreme Court blocked the $430B plan in 2023.
Alleged laws involved:
Exceeding executive authority under the HEROES Act
Violating separation of powers
Outcome: Supreme Court ruled against the administration.
2. CDC Eviction Moratorium Extension
Conservative lawmakers and commentators argue Biden violated the Constitution by extending the CDC eviction moratorium despite warnings it might be unconstitutional.
Alleged constitutional issue:
Failure to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed”
Executive overreach
Outcome: Supreme Court struck down the moratorium.
3. OSHA COVID‑19 Vaccine Mandate Overreach
Critics claim the administration violated separation of powers by imposing workplace vaccine/testing mandates through OSHA.
Outcome: Supreme Court blocked the mandate.
To quote someone here, but can't remember who,..
"So, this President doesn't give a fuck about the law or patriotic law-abiding Americans, he only cares for those millions of racist rats who continually gnaw at his balloon knot for sustenance and empower him to ignore the law and the constitution.
Show us where any PotUS created a $1.776 billion slush fund to pay his supporters. That is an example of something deserving of outrage. I do not see you posting outrage on this.
Or any of this where Trump:
Why would there be? We're talking about the current President actually proposing breaking the law by putting himself on a $250 bill. Why the fuck would I bring up Biden?[✘]
“Nice rant”
That’s debatable.
What the Trumpists don't want to mention is that a career employee of the Treasury Dept. LOST HER JOB because she...
It's no wonder that the majority of Americans, the sane Americans, feel revulsion towards Trump and his vile wannabe dictatorship.
Plus......he was already a convicted felon when elected to be POTUS.
that's an endearing virtue to maga ...
... just like child molestation.
He put his ugly mug on the park pass. Takes the fun out of camping at a national park.
I would support putting his image on a penny. Not more than one though, he's not worth two cents.
Not bad, not bad at all.
I wouldn't stoop to pick one of those up from the ground
I would. If there was only one in the world it would most likely be worth a fortune.
I would piss on it, then pick it up with gloves and auction it off to some wealthy Trump sycophant.
Well, he is queer as a 250 dollar bill.
a $250 bill with that asshole's picture on it is appropriate, since that's what a tank of gas or a bag of groceries is going to cost soon ...
Now that I like
Arvo...or you could go for a cheaper alternative..just stamp $250 on it and you would be hot to trot and ready to flush down the dunny...
wrong picture for the dunny roll, mate. his mouth needs to be opened wider with his tongue hanging out ...
Something like this perhaps?
Frankly, I couldn't stand having to look at his face even if it was to wipe my ass on. I think it would also be a little weird to wipe your asshole with an asshole. That's just a little too "Inception" for me.
it seemed logical to me, since that's what basically flows out of his mouth anyway ...
Imagine sitting down on the pot every morning and seeing that next to you....before you've had your coffee!!!!
Evening Fishy..well if you were constipated you sure as heck wouldn't be after seeing that..😊
Or your constipation just get worse! The bunghole makes itself as small as possible when in disgust
the ink is probably toxic ...
He never looked better.
he's got a better look coming just around the bend ...
I guess I'm not surprised there was no satire tag. Trump's ego should have required something bigger...
the US mint is already stamping gold coins with trump's face on them ...
I believe it is the UFC doing this. But it is still sickening to watch a PotUS engage in such extreme self-aggrandizement.
are they defaceable with a black Sharpie?
they need to be like those foreign coins that have a hole in them. any suggestions on where that hole should be?
not saying. I already made one TOS comment today
point to the place on the trumpy bear's head ...
Well, with Trump in charge fucking us with inflation and flushing our country down the toilet that $250 won't be worth the paper it's printed on halfway through the rightwing conservatives desired 'dear Leaders' third term...
MAGA can’t defend this, but is here to attack non-MAGA for disapproving of it. Typical.
thou must own the libs ...
... 13th commandment.
[✘]
What are 11-12?
this ought to be good
11 was raygun's thou shalt not speak ill of another republican, 12 is still being debated ...
12 - thou shalt not get caught in a cheap motel with underage sex slaves, before CPAC or the RNC convention...
You're close, but it's "12 - thou shalt not get caught in a cheap motel with underage sex slaves, before CPAC or the RNC convention, but if you do, deny it was you and blame Democrats.
I believe 13 is the age of consent for maga sex in the south, I'm not sure about the girls though ...
A lot of places I know won't even accept a $100 bill, what point would there be to having a $250 note
If you're MAGA you have it framed and hung on the wall.
... they do when it costs over $80 to fill your tank.
Lol do people still pay for stuff like gas with cash anymore? I've had the same $60 in cash in my wallet for over 3 years now
I'm going by past experience, since I use a debit card now, and give myself a $100 per month allowance for pocket money ...
250, worth about one tank of gas.