Adedokun Waliyu 
US President Donald Trump may soon appear on a new $250 bill as part of a proposal that could break long-standing American traditions regarding national currency.
According to a report by the Washington Post, the proposed design features Trump’s image along with the words “America 250 anniversary,” marking the 250th anniversary of the United States’ independence on July 4, 1776.
If approved, it would be the first time in about 150 years that the image of a living person, especially a sitting president, would appear on US currency.
The report stated that two Trump-appointed officials at the Treasury Department encouraged staff at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to begin preparing prototype designs for the new bill.
However, employees reportedly raised concerns because federal law prohibits the image of a living president from appearing on US money.
The newspaper said Patricia Solimene, the director of the printing bureau, warned officials about legal and procedural challenges linked to the proposal. She was later reassigned from her position.
Despite the concerns, the Trump administration has continued efforts to place the president’s name and image on several national institutions and projects.
Earlier this year, the US Commission of Fine Arts approved the production of a commemorative “Semiquincentennial Gold Coin” made of 24-carat gold.
Reports also stated that institutions such as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the US Institute of Peace have been rebranded to include Trump’s name.
Trump’s image has also appeared on banners displayed at the Department of Justice and Department of Agriculture, and it may soon appear in some US passports.
A bill seeking to allow Trump’s image on a $250 note was introduced in Congress last year but has not yet progressed.
A spokesperson for the Treasury Department said the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is carrying out “appropriate planning and due diligence” regarding the proposal.
Democrats criticised the idea, with Senator Mark Warner describing it as an attempt by the White House to boost the president’s ego.
