WASHINGTON, United States — The U.S. Treasury Department has announced that future American paper currency will carry President Donald Trump’s signature, marking a historic shift that ends a 165-year tradition in the design of U.S. banknotes.
The move will make Trump the first sitting U.S. president to have his signature appear on circulating paper money.
Traditionally, U.S. currency has featured only the signatures of the Treasury Secretary and the U.S. Treasurer, a practice dating back to the 19th century.
Treasury officials said the redesigned notes are expected to debut in summer 2026, beginning with newly issued $100 bills.
The president’s signature will appear alongside that of the Treasury Secretary, replacing the long-standing inclusion of the Treasurer’s signature.
The change coincides with preparations for the United States’ 250th anniversary of independence in 2026, with officials describing the redesign as part of broader commemorative updates to national symbols and currency security features.
Under U.S. law, portraits of living individuals are prohibited on currency, but the Treasury retains discretion over other design elements, including signatures.
Officials said the decision falls within existing legal authority governing the appearance of banknotes.
The Treasury indicated that the current currency in circulation will remain legal tender.
Older notes without the president’s signature will continue to circulate alongside the redesigned bills, with gradual replacement occurring through routine issuance.
The decision also marks the end of the Treasurer’s signature on U.S. banknotes, closing a chapter that began when modern U.S. paper currency was formalised in the 1860s.
The Treasurer’s role has historically been ceremonial in currency design, while the Treasury Secretary’s signature reflects executive financial authority.
The first banknotes featuring the presidential signature are expected to enter circulation in phases starting in 2026, with additional denominations to follow.
