Today, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had his turn filling in for Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt while she is out on maternity leave.
During the press conference, he was asked by Fox News‘ Peter Doocy about a proposed $250 bill with President Trump’s face on it, which would coincide with America’s 250th Birthday this year.
Bessent confirmed that the Treasury Department has already prepared for the new bill, but that Congress has to take action to approve it.
As it stands, one of the requirements for U.S. currency is that it cannot feature the likeness of a living person.
But, legislation has been introduced into Congress to change that requirement to allow for the Trump $250 bill.
Secretary Bessent explained further in this clip:
🚨 JUST IN: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent CONFIRMS the $250 bill with President Trump's face on it is ALREADY in the works
"There is proposed legislation in front of the House, in front of the Senate to change the [law] so that a living person, Donald J. Trump, could be on a… pic.twitter.com/3BopZWyMjI
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) May 28, 2026
JUST IN: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent CONFIRMS the $250 bill with President Trump’s face on it is ALREADY in the works
“There is proposed legislation in front of the House, in front of the Senate to change the [law] so that a living person, Donald J. Trump, could be on a $250 bill.”
“At Treasury, we prepare things in advance. So we have prepared in advance that if the legislation is passed, but we will stick to the law.”
The Trump $250 bill was first reported on by The Washington Post in an article published Thursday morning.
Here’s an excerpt from that WaPo article:
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.
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If you thought that article was a bit confusing, you’re not the only one…
Hilariously, Secretary Bessent called out the WaPo during today’s press conference, noting how terribly written the story was!
Watch this:
🚨 LMAO!! Scott Bessent physically pulled out a Washington Post story about Trump on the $250 bill and CALLED OUT their writers to their faces
*Pulls out the story*: "Who here's from the post? Yeah, TERRIBLY written, TERRIVLY edited!" 😭
"Because basically what it says is that… pic.twitter.com/CAiNhnKZi3
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 28, 2026
LMAO!! Scott Bessent physically pulled out a Washington Post story about Trump on the $250 bill and CALLED OUT their writers to their faces
*Pulls out the story*: “Who here’s from the post? Yeah, TERRIBLY written, TERRIVLY edited!” 😭
“Because basically what it says is that treasury is following the law, and that we’ve created the bill, and that it’s up to Congress, but that we follow the bill and it’s up to, I didn’t really understand what the story was.”
You have to love Secretary Bessent! Always saying it like it is.
Trump’s team doesn’t just ignore the media, they roast them in real time. Legend.
— Danielle knows a lot (@Daniell64334313) May 28, 2026
As for what the bill would look like, the Treasury Department has stated that all mockups going around online are not real.
The actual design has not been released yet.
Per CBS News:
Asked about the bill’s design, the Treasury Department official referred CBS News to Rep. Wilson’s legislation. A press release on Wilson’s website shows an AI design mock-up that features a color portrait of Mr. Trump on the left-hand side of a $250 note.
Another version appeared in the Washington Post article, with the publication noting the image was a mockup provided by White House officials to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing staff. The image depicts a bill printed in shades of green ink, similar to current banknotes, with a center image of Mr. Trump.
New currency designs can take years to develop, according to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Designs typically are only released to the public six to eight months before the currency enters circulation to hamper counterfeiters, the bureau says.
Given that design process, the Treasury Department official said that “any ‘designs’ or ‘mockups’ circulating are not real.”
The $250 bill would be the latest addition to a lineup of currency created to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary. In December 2025, the Treasury Department unveiled a series of new designs for the nickel, dime, quarter and half dollar that will appear on coins minted in 2026.
What are your thoughts?
Would you like to see a new $250 bill with President Trump’s face on it?
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