Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent previews $100 bill design bearing President Donald Trump’s signature for 250th birthday

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on July 3 previewed a new $100 bill design that includes the signatures of both himself and President Donald Trump, reposting an image shared by Trump on Truth Social. The administration said the new currency is set to enter circulation soon as part of U.S. observances for the nation’s 250th birthday.

The $100 note shown in the repost depicts Trump’s signature above Bessent’s. According to reporting on the design and earlier Treasury messaging, the change would mark the first time a sitting president’s signature appears on U.S. paper currency, breaking with a long-standing approach in which the president does not sign circulating bank notes while serving in office.

Treasury officials have previously described the signature change as tied to the semiquincentennial and said it can proceed under authority Treasury associated with the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, even though federal law generally bars living people from being depicted on U.S. currency. The Hill reported that Treasury has argued the 2020 law gives the administration a basis to make an exception for the 250th anniversary.

The effort to add Trump’s name to currency was first described by Bessent in late March, along with details that the design would be rolled out on newly produced notes. Multiple outlets reported that Treasury planned to put Trump’s signature on new U.S. paper currency, including the administration’s stated goal of incorporating the president’s signature across denominations as production runs begin.

Separately, reporting in April said a Fort Worth currency production site would begin printing new greenbacks bearing Trump’s signature later in 2026. The timing of that production and the point at which the public will see notes enter circulation remain tied to Treasury’s printing schedules and distribution of new note runs.

The design change has drawn scrutiny in Congress. The Hill reported that in an April letter, Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Jeff Merkley asked Bessent for answers about how the signature requirement relates to public problems facing Americans, arguing the justification was unclear. The Trump administration’s public position, as reflected in coverage of the signature rollout, has been that the change is appropriate for the independence-anniversary commemoration.

Treasury’s next step is implementation through currency production and distribution for notes bearing Trump’s signature. Any broader expansion across additional denominations and the pace at which notes replace existing stock depend on ongoing printing and federal circulation planning.