President Donald Trump’s signature is set to appear on US banknotes this summer in a major change that will end a 165-year-old tradition.
According to the Treasury Department, this is the first time in US history that a sitting president has signed US money.
Traditionally, bank notes bear the signatures of US Treasury officials since 1861. Now, this tradition is going to be phased out under the Trump administration.
The change is part of a broader redesign to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence. To make room for the President’s signature, the Treasury is breaking 165 years of tradition by removing the signature of the U.S. Treasurer.
“There is no more powerful way to recognize our great country and the historic accomplishments of President Donald J. Trump than with a U.S. dollar bill bearing his name,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Besant.
As reported reuters, The first $100 bills bearing Trump and Scott Besant’s signatures will be printed in June, followed by other bills in the coming months. However, it will take several weeks for these bank notes to be put into circulation.
The recent change is part of the Trump administration’s efforts to associate President Donald Trump’s name with various projects, including institutions, buildings, coins, warships and government programs.
Earlier this week, a federal art panel approved the formal design of a commemorative gold coin bearing Trump’s image.
Apart from replacing the Treasurer’s signature with Trump’s, there will be no other change in the design of the bill.
The recent announcement has attracted the attention of many notable officials. Jovita Carranza, who first served as treasurer during Trump’s tenure, called the change a “powerful symbol of American resiliency, the enduring power of free enterprise and the promise of continued greatness.”
The current Treasurer, Brandon Beach, also supported the move and called Trump “the architect of the Golden Age economic revival.”
However, former Treasurer Lynn Malerba, who would be the last in an uninterrupted line of US Treasurers to sign federal currency, declined to comment.
