Treasury Department says it's 'prepared' to put Trump's face on a new $250 bill if legislation passes

A bill proposed in February would carve out an exemption to allow President Donald Trump's face to appear on a commemorative $250 US bill.

Kent Nishimura/AFP via Getty Images

President Donald Trump could be the first living person in more than 160 years to appear on US paper currency — that is, if current law changes.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed during a press conference on Thursday that his agency has "prepared in advance" to print a $250 bill featuring Trump's likeness to commemorate the country's 250th birthday. Bessent said that his agency will move forward if the legislation to change current US law is passed."As Treasury Secretary, I have two mandates for US currency. At present, that no living person can be on US currency, and the currency must say, 'In God We Trust,'" Bessent said. "Right now, there is proposed legislation — in front of the House, in front of the Senate — to change the first requirement so that a living person, Donald J. Trump, could be on the $250 bill."Current US law says only deceased individuals may appear on US currency and securities.In 1866, Congress passed a measure known as the Thayer Amendment, which barred portraits or likenesses of living people from US bonds, securities, notes, fractional currency, and postal currency. The measure followed a scandal in which the portrait of Spencer M. Clark, a Treasury Department official, was printed on a 5-cent fractional currency note.In February, Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina introduced a bill that would create an exemption in the ban for individuals who served as president.A spokesperson for the Treasury Department did not respond to a request for comment.