US breaks 165-year-old tradition, will feature signature of President Donald Trump on its paper currency: Here is what we know so far

The United States is planning a major change to its currency design, with a proposal that the new dollar notes carry Donald Trump’s signature. This has been announced by the US Treasury Department on Thursday, 26th March, in preparation for the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations in 2026.

The Officials said the decision is part of a larger plan to celebrate the semiquincentennial year. According to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, “The idea is to celebrate the economic journey of this country, and by putting Trump’s signature on US currency, it’s a celebration of strong economic growth, stability, and dominance of the US dollar globally.”

The proposal is also supported by the US Treasurer Brandon Beach, who linked it to the administration’s economic vision. He said the upcoming anniversary is a moment to showcase America’s strength and prosperity, adding that Trump’s role in what he described as a “Golden Age” economic revival makes the decision necessary.

Along with paper notes, there is also a plan being discussed to introduce a $1 coin bearing the image of Trump.  Its early design shows his image on one side and an image of him standing in front of the American flag on the other. The Treasury said more commemorative items may also include his likeness as part of the celebrations.

The proposal has raised questions because US law has traditionally not allowed living people to appear on currency. This law was established in 1866 and was created to avoid anything that looks like monarchy-style practices. The US first introduced paper money for general use in 1861 during the Civil War, when “greenbacks” were issued to deal with coin shortages and rising expenses.

If approved, this would be the first time a sitting US president’s signature appears on paper currency, making it a historic and closely watched decision.