Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was behind the podium at Thursday's White House press briefing, and his affable and instructional style cleanly rendered the White House talking points of the day, along with some laughs.
After Bessent gave an overview of the new Trump Accounts app, the potential Iran Deal, and more details on the anti-weaponization fund, he opened the floor to questions from the press. One news item that captured media attention is Congress' proposed change in the law surrounding currency, in order for them to issue a $250 bill with President Donald Trump's face on it. The current law does not allow any living individual (president or no) to appear on United States legal tender.
Fox News Senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy asked a question surrounding the potential timeframe that Americans would see Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's signature next to President Donald Trump's face on a $250 bill. Bessent gave the details that the "exclusive" Washington Post article - published on Thursday - buried at the bottom.
WATCH:
BREAKING: Secretary Scott Bessent reveals the Treasury Department is actively preparing for a historic $250 bill featuring President Trump, pending proposed legislation from Congress that would allow a living person to appear on U.S. currency:
— Fox News (@FoxNews) May 28, 2026
"I have two mandates for U.S.… pic.twitter.com/2xksgTDmWM
BREAKING: Secretary Scott Bessent reveals the Treasury Department is actively preparing for a historic $250 bill featuring President Trump, pending proposed legislation from Congress that would allow a living person to appear on U.S. currency:
"I have two mandates for U.S. currency, at present, no living person can be on U.S. currency, and the currency must say, ‘In God we trust.’”
“So right now there is proposed legislation, in front of the House and in front of the Senate to change the first requirement so that a living person, Donald J. Trump, could be on the $250 bill.”
“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 was clear: 1) No living person can appear on currency; 2) Currency must say, "In God We Trust."
Bessent further clarified that it is the legislative body that will make the decision to change the mandate about living persons appearing on currency, and not the Treasury. If Congress wishes to alter the law to allow a living person to appear on new bills, then it will be done. Bessent drove home that his only job as Treasury Secretary is to be prepared for this possibility, should it happen.
You would think this would have adequately answered the matter, but legacy media's gonna legacy. CNN's Kaitlan Collins, who apparently likes being the topic of failure theater when it comes to the press briefings, asked of Bessent: "Do you think it's politically, it's a good idea to put his face on a $250 bill when people are struggling to afford gas and groceries?"
Read More: CNN Wins the 'Fake News' Prize As Karoline Leavitt Tears Apart Their Attempt to Misrepresent Hegseth
CNN Reporter's Story About Karoline Leavitt Blows Up That Whole 'Fascist Trump Admin' Narrative
Talk about a non sequitur. An issuance of a denomination of currency, particularly for commemorative purposes, has little to do one way or the other with people's economic state. Their state won't change much whether this commemorative currency is issued or not. Ergo, Collins has no point except to find a bone of contention with Trump's face being on currency at all.
As Bessent does so well, he patiently restated what he said to Fox News' Doocy just a few minutes ago. "It's up to the Congress if the president's face is on the $250 bill..."
Here's a transcript with Collins' interruption and Bessent's answer:
COLLINS: But it is actually The Washington Post that is reporting that it is two political appointees from the Treasury Department who have asked agencies to be ready. Do you think it's politically, it's a good idea to put his face on a $250 dollar bill when people are struggling to afford gas and groceries...
BESSENT: I don't really understand this Washington Post article. Terribly written, terribly edited. What it says is: Treasury is following the law, and that we've created the bill, and that it's up to Congress, I really didn't understand what the story was.
COLLINS: Are you saying you're not involved in that, two of your own political appointees?
BESSENT: Yeah, of course, but we prepare for everything if it gets passed. Just like we were ready six months in advance for the One Big Beautiful Bill for tax guidance. So, we have to prepare in advance. You can't draw something up the day before.
Collins was desperate for her soundbite, and pressed the same ridiculous question again.
COLLINS: Politically, do you don't think it's a good idea when people are struggling to afford gas and groceries?
BESSENT: I think that it's bifurcated. Do you think we should have a 250th Anniversary celebration?
Collins tried to brush his Socratic redirect off by quickly saying, "Well, that's happening anyway, but putting the president's face on a $250 bill — "
Collins failed to realize she had stepped cleanly into Bessent's rhetorical trap, and he snapped it shut.
BESSENT: No, no, no, Kaitlan, it's not happening anyway. It's happening because it's being funded via, by private citizens, by the federal government, by state governments, by municipal governments, to celebrate our country. And I don't think that there is anything untoward about having the President of the United States, the person who was President of the United States on the 250th Anniversary bill.
WATCH:
.@SecScottBessent destroys the @washingtonpost in the White House briefing room:
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 28, 2026
"Who here is from the Post? Yeah, terribly written, terribly edited."
"Basically what it says is that Treasury is following the law?" pic.twitter.com/be0mJTv51Y
Collins and her meager viewership are really not concerned about the price of gas and groceries, nor does she care about celebrating America or the money being spent on these celebrations. Her issue is that Trump's face will be a prominent historical marker of America 250, and will have a permanent place in United States history. Collins' outlet CNN, and their legacy media cohorts, did all they could to try and ensure Trump would not be in office to commemorate America's 250th anniversary. I shudder to think how things would look if they had succeeded.
Thank God, they didn't. Now we not only have epic celebrations planned, but we also may have a new piece of Americana that bears Trump's image, and marks this Golden Age that he has been instrumental in bringing about.
Cry more, legacy media.
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
Help RedState continue to report on the Democrats’ radicalism and inform voters as our nation faces a crossroads. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member