President Donald Trump has unveiled an image of a redesigned $100 bill bearing his signature, marking what the Treasury Department says will be the first time a sitting president’s signature appears on U.S. paper currency.
Trump shared the image on Truth Social Friday, July 3, showing a $100 note featuring both his signature and that of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The redesigned note is expected to enter circulation as part of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.`
Trump Unveils First $100 Bill Featuring a Sitting President’s Signature
The announcement follows a Treasury Department decision first revealed in March, when Bessent said the administration planned to issue currency carrying Trump’s signature in honor of the nation’s semiquincentennial.
The image posted by the president shows his signature above Bessent’s on the redesigned bill. Traditionally, U.S. paper currency carries the signatures of the Treasury secretary and the Treasurer of the United States, not the sitting president.
Bessent welcomed the release of the design in a post on X, describing it as a fitting tribute to both the country and the president.
“There is no more powerful way to recognize the historic achievements of our great country and President Donald J. Trump than U.S. dollar bills bearing his signature, and it is only appropriate that this historic currency be issued at the Semiquincentennial,” Bessent wrote on Saturday, July 4.
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He also praised the president’s economic record, saying the administration was leading the country toward stronger financial growth.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, we are on a path toward unprecedented economic growth, lasting dollar dominance, and fiscal strength and stability,” Bessent said.
Brandon Beach, the Treasurer of the United States, also welcomed the development, saying the redesigned notes are expected to reach the public soon.
“We look forward to these $100 notes being in circulation soon,” Beach said.
When the Treasury Department first announced the plan earlier this year, Beach said printing Trump’s signature on the nation’s currency reflected what he described as the president’s economic legacy.
“The President’s mark on history as the architect of America’s Golden Age economic revival is undeniable. Printing his signature on the American currency is not only appropriate, but also well deserved,” Beach said at the time.
Why Trump’s Signature on U.S. Currency Is Unprecedented
The redesign represents a departure from longstanding practice involving U.S. paper money.
Although Treasury secretaries and U.S. treasurers routinely have their signatures printed on banknotes, sitting presidents have not traditionally appeared on circulating paper currency, either in portrait or in signature.
Treasury officials say the inclusion of Trump’s signature is allowed under the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, a law signed during Trump’s first administration that allows the administration to circumvent the restriction on an occasion such as the semiquincentennial.
The administration has also defended similar commemorative efforts in recent months, including the release of a gold $1 coin featuring Trump’s image.
Democrats Question Treasury’s Decision
The decision has drawn criticism from some Democratic lawmakers.
In an April letter to Bessent, Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Jeff Merkley questioned the purpose of placing Trump’s signature on the nation’s currency.
“It is deeply unclear how, if at all, the Administration believes that emblazoning U.S. currency with President Trump’s signature will address any of the serious problems facing the American public,” the senators wrote.
The redesigned $100 bill is part of a major effort by the Trump administration to incorporate the president’s name and likeness into commemorative government materials tied to the country’s 250th anniversary.
Those initiatives have included limited-edition U.S. passports, annual National Park passes and other government-issued commemorative items.
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Separate proposals in Congress have gone further, suggesting a new $250 anniversary bill featuring Trump’s portrait. That proposal would require changes to existing federal law because current statutes allow only deceased individuals to appear on U.S. currency.
Treasury officials have previously acknowledged that design work on such concepts has been explored, should Congress authorize the measure, though no legislation to create a $250 bill has been enacted.
Public opinion remains divided over the decision to feature Trump’s signature on circulating currency.
Treasury officials have not announced the exact date the redesigned $100 bills will enter circulation.
Once the Bureau of Engraving and Printing completes production, the notes are expected to be distributed through the Federal Reserve before gradually reaching banks and the public.
