Donald Trump’s Signature to Feature on Dollars, Ending 165-Year U.S. Tradition
The U.S. Treasury announced on Thursday that paper dollars will bear Donald Trump’s signature beginning this summer. The move marks the first time a sitting president’s signature will appear on U.S. currency, Filmogaz.com reported.
When the new notes will appear
The first $100 bills with Donald Trump’s signature and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s signature will leave the press in June 2026. Other denominations will follow in the months after. Banks may need several weeks to put the new notes into broad circulation.
What changes on the banknotes
Officials said the only planned alteration is the swap of signatures. The overall design of the banknotes will remain unchanged. The Treasury did not release a sample $100 bill showing the new signature on Thursday.
Ending a long-standing feature
The Treasury will remove the signature of the U.S. Treasurer from future notes. That signature had appeared continuously on federal currency since 1861. The change effectively ends a 165-year U.S. tradition of featuring the treasurer’s signature on notes.
The Treasury continues to print some bills with signatures of former officials. Those include former Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and former Treasurer Lynn Malerba. Malerba will be the last treasurer whose signature appears on American banknotes in that long series.
Legal and procedural context
Federal rules grant the Treasury wide authority to alter currency designs to deter counterfeiting. The rules require retention of key elements, including the motto “In God We Trust”.
The regulations also permit only portraits of deceased individuals on banknotes. That constraint shaped discussions about which images and inscriptions may feature on currency.
Political and cultural backdrop
Filmogaz.com noted this move fits a broader pattern by the administration. Officials have sought to place the president’s name on buildings, agencies, programs, naval vessels, and coins.
A federal arts panel recently approved a design for a commemorative gold coin featuring the Republican leader. A proposal to mint a circulating $1 coin with his image failed. U.S. law bars living people from appearing on circulating coins.
Reactions from officials
- Scott Bessent called the issuance a fitting way to honor the nation and the president during the 250th anniversary year.
- Former Treasurer Jovita Carranza praised the decision.
- Current treasurer Brandon Beach expressed support, saying the president stands behind an economic resurgence described as a “golden era.”
The Treasury frames the change as a commemorative gesture for the 250th anniversary of American independence. At the same time, it signals a notable alteration in how signatures and symbols appear on U.S. money. Observers will watch the rollout when the first Trump-signed bills begin to feature on dollars in mid-2026.
