The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced on Thursday, March 26, 2026, that President Donald J. Trump’s signature will appear on future U.S. paper currency, timed to coincide with the 250th anniversary of American independence.
This marks the first time in history that a sitting president’s signature will appear on paper banknotes, breaking with a tradition that has held since currency was first printed in 1861. Trump’s signature will replace that of U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach, appearing alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s on all newly issued bills.
The first $100 bills bearing Trump’s signature are expected to roll off the presses in June, with other denominations to follow in subsequent months. U.S. banknotes are issued in denominations of $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100, all of which have traditionally carried only the signatures of the Treasury secretary and the treasurer.
Treasury Secretary Bessent defended the move, saying it was the most fitting way to honor the president’s role in what the administration calls an economic revival, though U.S. GDP grew 2.2 percent in 2025, slightly below the average expansion seen between 2022 and 2024.
The decision has drawn criticism from some quarters. Democrats in Congress have introduced legislation to prohibit any living or sitting president from appearing on U.S. currency.
Critics also noted that this is part of a broader pattern, as Trump’s name has been attached to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the U.S. Institute of Peace, discount drug programs, savings accounts, and proposed warships.
Legal experts say the signature change raises no legal concerns, given that the Treasury holds exclusive authority over currency design, though they acknowledged the move is likely to generate political backlash.
