Donald Trump’s signature will appear on US dollars for the first time in history

From summer 2026, US paper currency will bear the signature of President Donald Trump. This was announced by the US Treasury on 26 March, according to Reuters.

This is the first time a sitting president has signed US currency. At the same time, for the first time in 165 years, the new banknotes will not bear the signature of the US Treasury Secretary.

The first $100 notes bearing the signatures of Donald Trump and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent are scheduled to be printed in June. Other denominations will follow later. Once printed, the banknotes may enter circulation within a few weeks.

Production is currently underway for notes bearing the signatures of former Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Treasury Secretary Lynn Maherby. Maherby will be the last in an unbroken line of Treasury Secretaries whose signatures have appeared on federal currency since 1861.

The changes are part of a banknote update to mark the 250th anniversary of US independence. The overall design of the banknotes will remain unchanged, with the exception of replacing the treasurer’s signature with the president’s.

Legislation allows the Treasury Department to alter the design of banknotes to protect against counterfeiting, but requires certain elements to be retained, notably the inscription ‘In God We Trust’, and permits the use of portraits only of deceased individuals.

Scott Bessent stated that the inclusion of the President’s signature on the currency is fitting for the country’s 250th anniversary, given the economic growth and financial stability during Donald Trump’s second term.

A previous attempt to issue a circulating $1 coin featuring Trump’s image was not implemented due to a legal ban on depicting living persons on coins.

Former Treasurer Lynn Mahlerba did not comment on the decision. Her predecessor, Yovita Carranza, described the change as a symbol of US resilience and the strength of free enterprise. The current Treasurer, Brandon Beach, also supported the initiative.