For the first time in American history, a sitting president’s signature will appear on U.S. currency — and President Trump just showed the world what it looks like.
Story Highlights
- Trump posted the first image of the redesigned $100 bill on Truth Social on July 3, 2026, showing his signature on the note.
- The U.S. Treasury officially announced in March 2026 that Trump’s signature will appear on all new paper currency alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s.
- This breaks a 165-year tradition — no sitting president has ever had a signature on American money.
- The change honors America’s 250th anniversary and applies to all new notes printed from mid-2026 through mid-2027.
Trump Reveals the New $100 Bill
On July 3, 2026, President Trump posted an image on Truth Social showing the redesigned $100 bill with his signature on it. The post gave Americans their first look at the new design. Benjamin Franklin still appears on the front of the bill. But now, Trump’s signature sits alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s — a change that makes this note unlike any dollar bill ever printed in U.S. history.
The Treasury Department made it official back in March. Press Release SB0425, issued on March 26, 2026, confirmed that Trump’s signature would appear on future U.S. paper currency. Treasury Secretary Bessent said at the time, “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.” The bills began printing in June 2026.
A 165-Year Tradition Comes to an End
Since 1861, every U.S. paper bill has carried just two signatures — the Secretary of the Treasury and the U.S. Treasurer. No sitting president ever signed American money. Not Washington. Not Lincoln. Not Roosevelt. Trump is the first. The Treasury says the move does not break the law because it adds only a signature, not a portrait. Federal law bars portraits of living people on currency, but it does not ban their signatures.
The redesign marks America’s 250th birthday — the Semiquincentennial. All new notes printed between mid-2026 and mid-2027 will carry Trump’s signature. U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach called the move well-deserved, saying Trump’s role as “the architect of America’s Golden Age economic revival” made the honor fitting. The bills cover every denomination, not just the $100 note.
Why This Moment Matters to Americans
America’s currency has always been a symbol of national strength. The faces and names on our money reflect who we are as a country. Adding a president’s signature — especially one tied to a historic anniversary — sends a clear message about the era we are living through. For conservatives who believe in American pride and strong leadership, seeing that signature on the dollar is a tangible sign of the times.
NEW: President Trump unveiled the new $100 bill design, featuring his signature above Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's. The change follows a Treasury policy update, while lawmakers continue pushing for a separate $250 bill with Trump's portrait. pic.twitter.com/oF6VVE58IX
— Ernie Anastos (@ErnieAnastos7) July 5, 2026
Some media outlets and fact-checkers raised early questions about whether the bill image Trump shared was official. However, the Treasury’s own press release confirms the policy change is real. The only open question is the exact rollout schedule — the Treasury has not yet announced when the new bills will reach everyday Americans through the Federal Reserve system. What is not in question: this is a genuine, historic first for U.S. currency.
Sources:
people.com, reuters.com, home.treasury.gov