Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent weighed in Thursday on growing speculation about a proposed $250 bill featuring President Donald Trump, stressing that any such move would ultimately be up to Congress, while also defending the Treasury Department’s preparations should legislation pass. The issue surfaced during a White House press briefing when Bessent was asked how long it would take for Americans to see his signature as Treasury secretary next to Trump’s face on newly created currency. “As Treasury Secretary, I have two mandates for U.S. currency at present,” Bessent replied. “That no living person can be on U.S. currency, and the currency must say ‘In God We Trust.’” Bessent explained that proposed legislation already moving through Congress would change the long-standing prohibition on living individuals appearing on American currency. “So right now, there is proposed legislation from the House, in front of the Senate, to change the first requirement, so that a living person, Donald J. Trump, could be on the $250 bill,” he said. “So it’s all up on Capitol Hill.” The Treasury secretary also confirmed that the department has already begun preparing in case the legislation becomes law. “At Treasury we prepare things in advance, so we have prepared in advance that if the legislation is passed, but we will stick to the law,” Bessent said. Later in the briefing, reporters repeatedly pressed Bessent on whether he personally believed placing Trump on currency was politically wise, especially amid continued concerns about inflation and affordability. Bessent pushed back against the framing of the question and again clarified that the proposal is not being initiated directly by Trump himself. “The President doesn’t do it,” Bessent said. “The House and the Senate have to do it.” Bessent also mocked a Thursday Washington Post report about the proposal after reporters cited it while questioning Treasury’s internal preparations. “I don’t really understand this Washington Post article,” Bessent said. “Yeah, terribly written, terribly edited.” He argued the story merely confirmed that Treasury was following existing law while preparing for the possibility Congress could approve the legislation. “We prepare for everything if it gets passed,” Bessent said. “You can’t draw something up the day before.” When reporters again asked whether it was politically appropriate to place Trump on currency, Bessent tied the proposal to the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States. “I don’t think that there’s anything untoward about having the President of the United States — the person who was President of the United States on the 250th anniversary bill,” he said. The proposal comes as the Trump administration increasingly looks for ways to commemorate America’s semiquincentennial celebration in 2026, with some supporters pushing for new coins, currency, and memorial projects honoring Trump’s role during the anniversary year.