CNN has published a report highlighting a new and controversial move in the United States, in which President Donald Trump shared, via his official account on Truth Social, a new image of a 100-dollar banknote bearing his personal signature.
The move comes a few months after the US Treasury Department announced — for the first time in the country's history — that the signature of a sitting president would be included on American paper currency. The image Trump posted shows his signature placed prominently above that of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, a departure from the established convention under which only the signatures of the Treasury Secretary and the Treasurer of the United States appeared on banknotes, without the president's.
Among supportive reactions, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent praised President Trump's economic achievements, writing on X that there is no more powerful way to recognise America's historic accomplishments and President Trump's than by placing his signature on the dollar. He added that it is entirely fitting to issue this historic currency in conjunction with the celebration of the nation's 250th anniversary (the semiquincentennial). Bessent had indicated in March that the administration planned to include Trump's signature as a tribute to the national occasion. US Treasurer Brandon Beach also affirmed the administration's intention to put the 100-dollar notes into circulation soon, describing Trump as the architect of America's economic renaissance in its golden age and stating that printing his signature on the currency is entirely deserved.
The CNN report noted that the inclusion of the name and symbol on the currency is part of a series of projects championed by Trump to stamp his mark and name on a wide range of official documents and American landmarks. His administration had previously placed his image, his name, or both, on commemorative American passports, national park passes, signage on government agency buildings in Washington, cultural institutions such as the United States Institute of Peace, and children's investment accounts. The state of Florida also renamed Palm Beach International Airport after him.
On the front of more ambitious plans, some members of Congress are seeking to go a step further by placing Trump's personal image on currency, through a bill to issue a commemorative 250-dollar banknote bearing his likeness.
Although the effort faces legislative hurdles — given that the bill requires support from Democratic senators and conflicts with current US law, which prohibits placing the images of living persons on banknotes and securities, restricting them to the deceased only — the bill before the House of Representatives seeks an exception for the sitting president.
The report revealed that staff at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing had already begun earlier this year preparing prototype designs for the banknote. In this regard, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the steps in an interview with Kaitlan Collins on CNN, stating that he sees nothing improper in placing Trump's image on currency, while acknowledging that political appointees are involved in the process to prepare for all contingencies should the legislation pass.