Treasury Secretary Bessent Defends $250 Trump Portrait Bill Amid Press Clash

During a Thursday White House press briefing, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent faced CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins, who asked whether placing President Donald Trump’s portrait on a commemorative $250 bill was appropriate amid rising costs. Bessent dismissed the reporting as poorly written and edited and defended Treasury’s work for a bill.

HuffPost

The United States is gearing up for a 250th-anniversary celebration that includes a fight on the White House lawn and concerts on the National Mall. A proposal to issue a $250 commemorative note featuring Trump’s likeness has emerged, but current law permits only deceased individuals on U.S. currency, requiring congressional action; a related bill introduced over a year ago remains in committee.

The Hill

The discussion involved Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins, President Donald Trump, Treasury appointees U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach and senior adviser Mike Brown, staff at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and British artist Iain Alexander, who designed a mock-up for the bill.

HuffPost

Bessent said the Treasury is preparing “in advance” for any legislation, noting design work began six months before the “One Big Beautiful Bill” tax guidance. He stressed that the Treasury is complying with existing law and that a $250 note would require congressional approval, not a presidential directive. He also said the effort is funded by private citizens, federal, state and municipal governments, and expressed no concern about president’s image on the bill. He noted that producer prices rose 6% and consumer prices increased 3.8% from April 2025, underscoring economic backdrop.

The Hill

Collins asked whether the portrait was appropriate amid rising costs. Treasury employees warned the design conflicts with the law that restricts currency portraits to deceased individuals. Critics noted the bill’s stagnation in committee and questioned the timing.

HuffPost

Washington Post report cited Beach and Brown urging the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to ready prototypes, while Bessent said he “didn’t really understand what the story was.” The enabling legislation has not left committee, and private versus government funding remain unclear.

HuffPost

• “Terribly written, terribly edited.” — Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary

The Hill

• “Do you think politically it’s a good idea to put his face on a $250 bill when people are struggling to afford gas and groceries?” — Kaitlan Collins, CNN reporter

The Wrap

• “the president doesn’t do it; the House and the Senate have to do it.” — Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary

HuffPost

• “And I don’t think that there’s anything untoward about having the president of the United States, that the person who was president of the United States on the 250th anniversary bill,” — Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary

HuffPost

Congress is expected to consider the commemorative bill as the 250th-anniversary events begin in June. The Treasury says it is ready to produce prototypes if legislation passes, while public and media scrutiny is likely to increase.

The Hill