Date: July 1, 2026 l Reporter: Kingston Nwosu
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. President Donald Trump has posted an image of a redesigned US$100 bill carrying his signature, offering the clearest public glimpse yet of a controversial change to American currency that the Treasury Department says is part of plans to mark the country’s 250th anniversary. The image, shared on Trump’s social media platform Truth Social, showed his signature placed above that of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, signalling a historic break with long-standing U.S. currency practice.
The post has reignited debate over the administration’s earlier decision to place a sitting president’s signature on U.S. paper money for the first time in modern history. In March, the Treasury Department announced that Trump’s signature would begin appearing on newly printed currency in 2026 as part of commemorations for the American semiquincentennial, describing the move as a tribute to his leadership during what officials called a period of economic strength and “dollar dominance.”
Traditionally, U.S. banknotes bear the signatures of the Treasury secretary and the Treasurer of the United States, not the president. Under the revised arrangement, Trump’s signature is set to replace that of the treasurer, ending a practice that has remained in place for generations. Treasury officials have said the overall design of the bill would remain largely unchanged apart from the signature alteration, with Benjamin Franklin continuing to appear on the face of the $100 note.
The newly shared image appears to confirm that the administration has moved from announcement to at least an advanced design stage. However, officials have not publicly stated whether the bills shown in Trump’s post are already being mass-produced or circulated through banks. Earlier Treasury statements indicated that the first $100 notes carrying Trump’s signature would begin printing in June before gradually entering circulation.
The decision has drawn mixed reactions from legal experts, historians, and political critics. Supporters argue that the change is a symbolic way to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence and celebrate what they view as Trump’s economic record. Critics, however, see it as another example of the president placing his personal brand on national institutions and public symbols, raising concerns about the politicisation of state imagery.
The currency change is part of a broader pattern in which Trump and his allies have sought to tie his name and image more closely to official government commemorations surrounding the semiquincentennial. In recent months, the administration has also backed commemorative projects and branding initiatives that prominently feature the president, reinforcing the perception that the anniversary celebrations are being closely aligned with Trump’s political identity.
Although U.S. law places restrictions on portraits of living individuals appearing on standard currency, the signature issue falls within Treasury’s authority over note design and anti-counterfeiting measures. That legal distinction has allowed the administration to proceed without congressional approval, even as the move continues to attract public and political scrutiny.
Trump’s latest post therefore serves not only as a visual reveal of the redesigned $100 bill but also as a reminder of the wider political symbolism attached to America’s 250th anniversary celebrations. Whether the bills become widely circulated in the coming weeks or remain largely commemorative in impact, the image has already reignited debate over presidential power, historical tradition, and the use of national symbols in contemporary politics.