Trump Administration Advances Plan for $250 Bill with President Trump’s Portrait
The Trump administration is pressing the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to create a new $250 bill featuring President Donald J. Trump’s portrait, according to a Washington Post report.
The move would break over 150 years of tradition against depicting living individuals on U.S. currency, the last case was in 1866. It is timed to coincide with America’s 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026, and is promoted as both a commemoration and a practical way to carry larger cash amounts.
Administration officials have shared mock up designs, and high level Treasury involvement continues despite internal pushback, including the reassignment of a Bureau director who opposed parts of the plan.
Legislative Support
In February 2025, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) introduced the “Donald J. Trump $250 Bill Act” (H.R. 1761) to require the note and exempt it from historical restrictions on living persons.
Trump’s signature is already slated to appear on future currency.
Supporters see it as fitting recognition of Trump’s “America First” legacy, while critics call it unprecedented self-commemoration.
The bill remains in committee, but active work at the Bureau suggests the proposal could move forward as the nation prepares for its semiquincentennial.
