Trump’s signature to grace U.S. banknotes for 250th anniversary

In an unprecedented break from a 165-year tradition, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that President Donald Trump’s signature will appear on all new paper currency to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary.

The United States Department of the Treasury has announced a historic shift in the design of American currency, revealing that President Donald Trump’s signature will appear on all new paper banknotes. This move, officially disclosed on Thursday, March 26, 2026, is part of an elaborate strategy to celebrate the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that the first $100 bills bearing the President’s signature will be printed in June, with other denominations to follow in subsequent months. While the portraits and overall imagery of the bills remain unchanged, the signature of the President will replace the space traditionally occupied by the Treasurer of the United States.

This development marks the first time in history that a sitting president’s signature has featured on U.S. paper currency. Since 1861, banknotes have traditionally carried the signatures of the Treasury Secretary and the U.S. Treasurer. By removing the Treasurer’s signature, currently held by Lynn Malerba, the administration is ending a 165-year-old convention. Secretary Bessent described the decision as a fitting tribute to the current administration’s economic narrative, stating: “There is no more powerful way to recognise the historic achievements of our great country and President Donald J Trump than US dollar bills bearing his name, and it is only appropriate that this historic currency be issued at the Semiquincentennial.”

The announcement has triggered intense debate among policymakers and historians, as federal law traditionally restricts the depiction of living individuals on U.S. currency—though this has historically applied to portraits rather than signatures. U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach supported the move, calling the President the “architect of America’s Golden Age economic revival.” However, critics have voiced concerns over the potential politicization of national symbols. Despite the controversy, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is moving forward with the transition, as the new notes are expected to enter circulation just in time for the July 4th celebrations, potentially becoming high-value items for numismatic collectors in the future.

---

U.S. Currency Signature Evolution (2026)

Feature	Pre-March 2026 Standard	New Semiquincentennial Design
Primary Signature	Secretary of the Treasury	Secretary of the Treasury (Scott Bessent)
Secondary Signature	Treasurer of the United States	President of the United States (Donald Trump)
Tradition Length	165 Years (Since 1861)	First-ever for a sitting President
First Denomination	All	$100 Bill (Starting June 2026)

READ THE FULL STORY IN PEOPLES GAZETTE