You know about his obsession with gold. You’ve been appalled with his record of corruption, self-dealing, and the slush fund. Grift and graft. Now he honors himself with a new piece of illegal tender decorated with his grotesque face (Who did his hair for this?) and signature. The bill is also supposed to reflect the country’s 250th anniversary. An old law states that “no living president can appear on currency.” House Republicans are working on bills to void this.
The problems here are not just legal. Putting out a such a large denomination $250 bill, according to Timothy Noah, “would be tailor-made for criminals” because it’s easier to transport and use than huge wads of cash in smaller denominations. Gemini also tells us: “It requires no identity verification, cannot be hacked, and can be exchanged instantly without a third-party intermediary like a bank. Once a high-denomination bill changes hands, the transaction is essentially invisible to law enforcement.”
Printing and distributing such a bill (which very few ordinary people would use) will take time. The Bureau of Printing and Engraving requires detailed and lengthy security measures to select paper and ink and prevent counterfeiting. Scott Bessent, our mealy-mouthed Secretary of the Treasury, promoted the bill at a White House press conference.
Bessent defended the new currency when asked by a reporter whether it was a good idea to put Trump’s face on a $250 bill as many Americans struggle to afford everyday essentials. Bessent said there was nothing “untoward” about having the leader who was president during the 250th anniversary featured on a bill.
Well, everything Trump does is “untoward.” Of a piece with the $250 bill idea is the attempt to get his mug on the new edition of the U.S. passport. In a way that’s even more offensive because it will be seen and used by more people. There is talk of a new Trump coin. How about Trump toilet paper?
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries vowed a “hard no on a Trump $250 bill. . . .Get over yourself,” Jeffries wrote. “The upcoming July 4th anniversary is not about a wannabe King. It’s about celebrating the American journey.”
For Trump everything is about celebrating himself. Do we have to run through all the nauseating demonstrations of that? There are so many that the public’s senses have been dulled. Which does not bode well for the midterm elections or for America’s future.
I’d be fine with his putting himself on a now worthless penny.