In an unprecedented move, President Donald Trump’s signature will soon be featured on U.S. currency, the Treasury Department announced Thursday. This marks the first time a sitting U.S. president’s signature will appear on banknotes, a change coinciding with the nation’s 250th anniversary. The decision replaces the signature of the U.S. Treasurer, a tradition dating back over a century.
The Treasury Department stated that the inclusion of President Trump’s signature alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s is intended to recognize the country’s “historic achievements” and the president’s role in guiding the nation toward “unprecedented economic growth.” Secretary Bessent remarked in a statement, “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 name.”
Traditionally, U.S. banknotes have featured the signatures of the Treasury Secretary and the U.S. Treasurer. The practice of the Treasurer’s signature appearing on currency has been in place since 1861. This new directive signifies a departure from that long-standing tradition. The first bills bearing both Trump’s and Bessent’s signatures are slated for printing in June.
The announcement has drawn varied reactions. California Governor Gavin Newsom, a prominent critic of President Trump, took to social media to mock the decision, suggesting it would allow Americans to “know exactly who to blame” for rising costs. This move follows a recent approval by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts for a commemorative gold coin featuring President Trump’s image, also in celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary. Critics have likened the precedent-setting actions to those of dictators and monarchs, while supporters view it as a fitting tribute to the president’s legacy.
While the Treasury Department cited “unprecedented economic growth” under Trump, data indicates that U.S. GDP grew 2.2 percent in 2025, which was slightly below the 2.5 percent average expansion seen from 2022-2024. The inclusion of the president’s signature on currency is seen by some as an extension of Trump’s practice of associating his personal brand with national institutions and projects.