‘He absolutely loved it:’ President Trump may soon have his face on $250 banknote — something that no other living person has done since 1866

However, this proposal faces a massive legal roadblock. Federal law has strictly banned putting any living person on U.S. currency since the Civil War. To actually put Trump’s portrait on a wallet-ready bill, the administration would need Congress to step in and rewrite the rulebook.

Bumping up against century-old currency rules

As it turns out, this $250 anniversary bill is already running into a wall of government red tape.

As the Washington Post reports, internal mock-ups are already floating around Washington. The proposed design features Trump on the front, flanked by his own signature and that of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The artwork was created by British artist Iain Alexander, who claims Trump personally reviewed the design and “absolutely loved it.” But loving it doesn’t make it legal.

The administration already faces an immediate roadblock — the Thayer Amendment of 1866. Congress passed this law during the Civil War after a Treasury official put his own face on a currency note. It triggered a backlash and lawmakers at the time banned living people from appearing on U.S. money ever again.

Even if Congress decides to rewrite that 160-year-old rule for Trump, Americans shouldn’t expect to see this bill in their wallets anytime soon. Creating a brand-new denomination is, by all accounts, a logistical nightmare. It takes years of anti-counterfeiting testing and massive coordination between the Federal Reserve, the Secret Service and printing agencies.

For now, the Treasury Department says it’s just doing its “due diligence” on the concept, claiming these talks are strictly preliminary. But if Congress gives the green light for the 250th anniversary, they will be ready to print.

The reality check

So far, Trump’s new bill has gained limited traction on Capitol Hill, and that outcome doesn’t surprise people familiar with the system.