U.S. Currency to Add Trump Signature in Historic First

Future U.S. paper currency will include the signature of President Trump alongside that of the Treasury Secretary, marking the first time a sitting president’s signature appears on U.S. banknotes.

U.S. paper money has traditionally carried the signatures of the Treasury Secretary and the Treasurer — a practice dating back more than a century. The Treasurer, who reports to the Treasury Secretary, oversees the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP), which produces U.S. paper currency, and the U.S. Mint, which manufactures the nation’s coins and medals.

Authority over currency signatures traces to 1861, when President Abraham Lincoln approved legislation permitting the Treasury Secretary to delegate the signing of notes and bonds to the U.S. Treasurer. By 1914, both the Treasury Secretary and Treasurer appeared together on U.S. paper currency.

Treasury officials framed the change as part of the nation’s Semiquincentennial celebration and a recognition of Trump’s leadership.

“There is no more powerful way to recognize the historic achievements of our great country and President Donald J. Trump than U.S dollar bills bearing his name, and it is only appropriate that this historic currency be issued at the Semiquincentennial,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.

Treasurer Brandon Beach added that the update reflects both the anniversary milestone and what he described as a period of economic strength under Trump’s leadership.

“As the 250th anniversary of our great nation approaches, American currency will continue to stand as a symbol of prosperity, strength, and the unshakable spirit of the American people under President Trump’s leadership,” Beach said. “The President’s mark on history as the architect of America’s Golden Age economic revival is undeniable. Printing his signature on the American currency is not only appropriate, but also well deserved.”

Earlier this month, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) approved designs for a U.S. Mint-struck gold coin bearing the image of President Trump. In February, the panel also recommended designs for a clad $1 coin depicting the President. Both coins would be issued as part of celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary and are aimed at collectors.

Additional Semiquincentennial-related releases for 2026 are already underway, with several coins introduced and more to come.

The lineup includes circulating 2026 coins with one-year-only designs, along with collector issues featuring dual dates of 1776 ~ 2026, Liberty Bell privy marks bearing the numeral “250,” and special finishes across multiple denominations, all tied to themes marking the nation’s 250-year milestone.