LIVE: Treasury Preparing $250 Bill With Trump’s Face | Congress Debates Trump Currency Proposal |

Ajouté : 2026-05-30

[00:00:00]United States on the 250th anniversary bill.

[00:00:04]>> Well, the government now has Trump gold cards, Trump accounts, Trump RX. They've renamed the Kennedy Center the Trump Kennedy Center and the Donald J. Trump US Institute of Peace and put his face on the National Parks Pass, not to mention his face on a giant banner hanging from the Department of Justice.

[00:00:18]Washington Post reporter Jonathan Oonnell is on the by line. He joins me now. So, what did you learn about the genesis of this and where it's headed?

[00:00:27]>> Thanks, Anderson. uh you know there's as you mentioned there's a number of reasons and ways that the president would like to celebrate the nation's 250th birthday. Um this is one of them.

[00:00:36]That's the reason for the $250 note. Um and like you mentioned also a lot of these celebrations uh involve either his name or his likeness, his image. Um we're doing things on his birthday. So I think this fits very well into those other celebrations. I mean the the photo of on the bill it looks I mean it's that kind of ominous photo that I guess he likes it it's quite stark compared to other presidents on other bills. Can you explain the federal law says what federal law says about new currency and who gets to appear on it?

[00:01:10]>> Yes. They've got two legal problems here. Uh one is as you mentioned there's no US currency does not presently allowed to h have any living person on there. You must be deceased. The second is there's another law that so shows exactly the denominations of currency that the US may print, which is the $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100. I think there's a couple higher ones than that that are illegal, but 250 is not in there. And the the Treasury Secretary is correct that passing legislation would potentially solve some of these things.

[00:01:40]What he's omitted here is the many, many difficult steps that there are to producing new currency that cannot be counterfeited. And that is usually a many yearslong process involving not just the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, but also the Secret Service, the Federal Reserve, other agencies. You know, when you see a new bit of currency produced, like the $100 bill that came out somewhat recently, there's dozens of embedded security features in there that those government agencies have all agreed upon together so the currency is viable and so that, you know, it cannot be counterfeited or otherwise misused.

[00:02:14]Um, just to be clear, has anyone ever suggested that America needs new denominations of currency, particularly $250?

[00:02:24]>> Oh, man. I mean, there there have been different ideas over the years about proposing different coins or currency.

[00:02:30]Some of them are collectibles though and not actual fiscal notes that, you know, bear the backing of the US Treasury. So, I I mean, history is long. They've been doing this over 150 years and there have been a lot of ideas. I don't know that this has uh an economic value to it. You know, it really is celebratory of President Trump and celebratory of the nation's birthday. I just don't think that the Treasury Secretary is being, I think, frank about the obstacles to making this happen and the difficulties of producing such a note.

[00:02:59]>> Um the there was talk of President Trump's signature being printed on US currency. Has that ever been done before of a president a sitting president having their signature on the currency and and where does that stand?

[00:03:11]>> There has never exactly there's never been currency with a sitting president's signature on it. And right now Anderson, which is in the story that we published today. Right now, the country is printing $100 notes with President Trump's signature on them. The public has not seen them yet. They're going to be I don't know the timing of when they will be they will be released but we know this because current and former employees of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing spoke out about it and at some point those will be released. Again, I don't know when, but they are being printed right this moment in downtown Washington.

[00:03:44]>> Tonight, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant is defending this possible new $250 bill with Donald Trump's face on it. All to commemorate America's 250th birthday.

[00:03:56]I don't think that the there's anything untored about having the president of the United States that the person who was president of the United States on the 250th anniversary bill.

[00:04:08]>> It is against federal law though to put a living person on US currency. Bessent says the Treasury Department is just preparing the design and waiting for Congress to act. Republican Congressman Joe Wilson actually proposed legislation last year to bring this about. Everyone is here with me. Jamal.

[00:04:28]>> So Besson did to his credit he did acknowledge he's like it they're only going to do it. He acknowledges it's illegal. They will only do it if Congress acts. Um but when he says there's nothing unourred about it. What do you think about it?

[00:04:42]>> Well, there's nothing else for them to do, right? No other issues going happening in the country. They ought to just spend some legislative time doing this. Listen, the American people are in the middle of a great price hike that's been happening. Gas prices are taking over everyone's wallet and now here we are going to put the president's face on a bill. It just seems like we ought to be focused on other things right now, not that.

[00:05:04]>> I mean, I one thing I just like what does it cost? It costs money to make money. like it costs something to do this and like that is going to be a true conversation but it's also Gretchen it's it's not just one bank note like it's not just one like commemorative thing I mean the list let me begin it's the state department issuing passports for people in DC with Trump's face there's the commemorative coin of course which they're now pushing for it to be as large as possible and the national park pass which will now feature Donald Trump and George Washington and the Arch and the Kennedy Center. I mean, what do you do with this?

[00:05:42]>> Well, we know this about Trump. I mean, all you have to do is go down New York City streets and see Trump on every single building until people started wanting to take down the name. So, this is his ego speaking and it just happens to be that he's president on the 250th anniversary. So, it's perfect timing for him. Did you know, however, though, that it supposedly takes 10 years to design and develop bills like this for security purposes because you you now with counterfeit and all that, you know, how they hold them up to the light and try and figure out if they're real or not.

[00:06:13]So, I'm not even so sure if Congress would actually say yes to this, which I don't think they will.

[00:06:17]>> That's red tape AND BREAKING THROUGH IT.

[00:06:19]>> BUT, but that so so we're going to get the 250th anniversary bill in 2036.

[00:06:25]And by the way, can we put it up again for a minute? I I would think Trump would be very upset with his hair.

[00:06:30]>> Why?

[00:06:31]>> Look at his hair.

[00:06:32]>> I think there's just good volume.

[00:06:33]>> Well, no. It's usually perfectly quafted like over here. So, if anything, I would I would think he would not choose this photo.

[00:06:39]>> Would it It's a a word that in in the biz I actually typically actually hate. But this one, it actually applies. Like, do optics matter here?

[00:06:49]>> Yes. I'm in no position to talk about hair, but I will tell you that it looks really menacing. It looks really mean.

[00:06:57]They call it like the grumpy 250. I mean, it's it's also deeply inappropriate, unacceptable, and I would argue unamerican. I mean, this is not what we do in America. That's what they do in North Korea. That's what they do in Russia. And I don't think it's going to do well with most Americans. But he doesn't seem to be too concerned about popularity lately. I mean, knocking down the White House, putting up the arch, I mean, the war in Iran, he is all gas, no breaks, and he doesn't care about public opinion. And this is just the latest example. It >> was predicted. It was predictable. and now it may actually be printed. The Treasury Department is making plans to put President Trump's face on a new $250 bill for the nation's 250th birthday.

[00:07:32]The Washington Post was first to report this, obtain a mockup of it. They report that employees at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing were pressured by Trump appointees to begin work on the bill, but the law does not allow for living presidents to actually be on currency. CNN's Caitlyn Collins asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent about the Washington Post report.

[00:07:52]terribly written, terribly edited. So, basically what what it says is that Treasur Treasury is following the law and that we've created the bill and that it's up to Congress, but that we follow the bill and it's up to I didn't really understand what the story was.

[00:08:06]>> So, aren't involved in that? Two of your political appointees.

[00:08:10]>> Yeah, of course. But we we prepare for everything if it gets passed. I I don't think that the there's anything unourred about having the president of the United States that the person who was president of the United States on the 250th anniversary bill.

[00:08:25]>> Well, the government now has Trump gold cards, Trump accounts, Trump RX. They've renamed the Kennedy Center, the Trump Kennedy Center, and the Donald J. Trump US Institute of Peace and put his face on the National Parks Pass, not to mention his face on a giant banner hanging from the Department of Justice.

[00:08:39]Washington Post reporter Jonathan Okonnell is on the by line. He joins me now. So, what did you learn about the genesis of this and where it's headed?

[00:08:47]>> Thanks, Anderson. Uh, you know, there's, as you mentioned, there's a number of reasons and ways that the president would like to celebrate the nation's 250th birthday. Um, this is one of them.

[00:08:57]That's the reason for the $250 note. Um, and like you mentioned also, a lot of these celebrations uh involve either his name or his likeness, his image. Um, we're doing things on his birthday. So, I think this fits very well into those other celebrations.

[00:09:13]>> I mean, the the photo on the bill, it looks I mean, it's that kind of ominous photo that I guess he likes it. It's quite stark compared to other presidents on other bills. Can you explain the federal law says what federal law says about new currency and who gets to appear on it?

[00:09:30]>> Yes, they've got two legal problems here. Uh, one is, as you mentioned, there's no US currency is not presently allowed to ha have any living person on there. you must be deceased. The second is there's another law that so shows exactly the denominations of currency that the US may print, which is the $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100. I think there's a couple higher ones than that that are illegal, but $250 is not in there. And the the Treasury Secretary is correct that passing legislation would potentially solve some of these things.

[00:10:01]What he's omitted here is the many many difficult steps that there are to producing new currency that cannot be counterfeited. And that is usually a many yearslong process involving not just the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, but also the Secret Service, the Federal Reserve, other agencies. You know, when you see a new bit of currency produced, like the $100 bill that came out somewhat recently, there's dozens of embedded security features in there that those government agencies have all agreed upon together so the currency is viable and so that, you know, it cannot be counterfeited or otherwise misused.

[00:10:35]>> Um, just to be clear, has anyone ever suggested that America needs new denominations of currency, particularly $250?

[00:10:45]>> Oh, man. And I mean there there have been different ideas over the years about proposing different coins or currency. Some of them are collectibles though and not actual fiscal notes that you know bear the backing of the US Treasury. So I I mean his history is long. They've been doing this over 150 years and there have been a lot of ideas. I don't know that this has an economic value to it. You know it really is celebratory of President Trump and celebratory of the nation's birthday. I just don't think that the Treasury Secretary is being, I think, frank about the obstacles to making this happen and the difficulties of producing such a note. Um the there was talk of President Trump's signature being printed on US currency. Has that ever been done before of a president, a sitting president having their signature on the currency and and where does that stand?

[00:11:31]>> There has never Exactly. There's never been currency with a sitting president's signature on it. And right now, Anderson, which is in the story that we published today, right now, the country is printing $100 notes with President Trump's signature on them. The public has not seen them yet. They're going to be I don't know the timing of when they will be they will be released, but we know this because current and former employees of the Bureau of Graving and Printing spoke out about it. And at some point, those will be released. Again, I don't know when, but they are being printed right this moment in downtown Washington.

[00:12:04]Tonight, Treasury Secretary Scott Besson is defending this possible new $250 bill with Donald Trump's face on it. All to commemorate America's 250th birthday.

[00:12:17]>> I don't think that the there's anything unfort.

[00:12:28]It is against federal law though to put a living person on US currency. Bessant says the Treasury Department is just preparing the design and waiting for Congress to act. Republican Congressman Joe Wilson actually proposed legislation last year to bring this about. Everyone is here with me. Jamal.

[00:12:49]>> So Besson did to his credit he did acknowledge he's like it they're only going to do it. He acknowledges it's illegal. They will only do it if Congress acts. Um, but when he says there's nothing unourred about it, what do you think about it?

[00:13:02]>> Well, there's nothing else for them to do, right? No other issues happening in the country. They ought to just spend some legislative time doing this.

[00:13:10]Listen, the American people are in the middle of a great price hike that's been happening. Gas prices are taking over everyone's wallet and now here we are going to put the president's face on a bill. It just seems like we ought to be focused on other things right now, not that. I mean I one thing I just like what does it cost it costs money to make money like it costs something to do this and like that is going to be a true conversation but it's also Gretchen it's it's not just one bank note like it's not just one like commemorative thing I mean the list let me begin it's the state department issuing passports for people in DC with Trump's face there's the commemorative coin of course which they're now pushing for to be as large as possible and and the National Park Pass, which will now feature Donald Trump and George Washington and the Arch and the Kennedy Center. I mean, what do you do with this?

[00:14:03]>> Well, we know this about Trump. I mean, all you have to do is go down New York City streets and see Trump on every single building until people started wanting to take down the name. So, this is his ego speaking. And it just happens to be that he's president on the 250th anniversary. So, it's perfect timing for him. Did you know, however, though, that it supposedly takes 10 years to design and develop bills like this for security purposes because you, you know, with counterfeit and all that, you know, how they hold them up to the light and try and figure out if they're real or not.

[00:14:33]So, I'm not even so sure if Congress would actually say yes to this, which I don't think they will.

[00:14:38]>> That's red TAPE AND BREAKING THROUGH IT.

[00:14:40]>> But so, so we're going to get the 250th anniversary bill in 2036.

[00:14:45]And by the way, can we put it up again for a minute? I I would think Trump would be very upset with his hair.

[00:14:50]>> Why?

[00:14:51]>> Look at his hair.

[00:14:52]>> I think there's just good volume.

[00:14:54]>> Well, no. It's usually perfectly quafted like over here. So, if anything, I would I would think he would not choose this photo.

[00:15:00]>> Would it a word that in in the biz I actually typically actually hate, but this one it actually applies. Like, do optics matter here?

[00:15:10]>> Yes. I'm in no position to talk about hair, but I will tell you that it looks really menacing. It looks really mean.

[00:15:17]They call it like the grumpy 250. I mean, it's it's also deeply inappropriate, unacceptable, and I would argue unamerican. I mean, this is not what we do in America. That's what they do in North Korea. That's what they do in Russia. And I don't think it's going to do well with most Americans. But he doesn't seem to be too concerned about popularity lately. I mean, knocking down the White House, putting up the arch. I mean, the war in Iran, he is all gas, no breaks, and he doesn't care about public opinion. And this is just the latest example.

[00:15:42]>> Was predicted. It was predictable. and now it may actually be printed. The Treasury Department is making plans to put President Trump's face on a new $250 bill for the nation's 250th birthday.

[00:15:52]The Washington Post was first to report this, obtain a mockup of it. They report that employees at the bureau of engraving and printing were pressured by Trump appointees to begin work on the bill. But the law does not allow for living presidents to actually be on currency. CNN's Caitlyn Collins asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant about the Washington Post report.

[00:16:12]terribly written, terribly edited because basically what what it says is that Treas Treasury is following the law and that we've created the bill and that it's up to Congress, but that we follow the bill and it's up to I didn't really understand what the story was appointees aren't involved in that two of your political appointees.

[00:16:30]>> Yeah, of course. But we we prepare for everything if it gets passed. I I don't think that the there's anything unfortunate about having the president of the United States that the person who was president of the United States on the 250th anniversary built.

[00:16:45]>> Well, the government now has Trump gold cards, Trump accounts, Trump RX. They've renamed the Kennedy Center, the Trump Kennedy Center, and the Donald J. Trump US Institute of Peace and put his face on the National Parks Pass, not to mention his face on a giant banner hanging from the Department of Justice.

[00:16:59]Washington Post reporter Jonathan Okonnell is on the by line. He joins me now. So, what did you learn about the genesis of this and where it's headed?

[00:17:08]>> Thanks, Anderson. Uh, you know, there's, as you mentioned, there's a number of reasons and ways that the president would like to celebrate the nation's 250th birthday. Um, this is one of them.

[00:17:17]That's the reason for the $250 note. Um, and like you mentioned also, a lot of these celebrations uh involve either his name or his likeness, his image. Um, we're doing things on his birthday. So, I think this fits very well into those other celebrations.

[00:17:33]>> I mean, the the photo of on the bill, it looks I mean, it's that kind of ominous photo that I guess he likes it. It's quite stark compared to other presidents on other bills. Can you explain the federal law says, what federal law says about new currency and who gets to appear on it?

[00:17:51]>> Yes, they've got two legal problems here. Uh, one is, as you mentioned, there's no US currency is not presently allowed to h have any living person on there. you must be deceased. The second is there's another law that so shows exactly the denominations of currency that the US may print, which is the $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100. I think there's a couple higher ones than that that are illegal, but 250 is not in there. And the the Treasury Secretary is correct that passing legislation would potentially solve some of these things.

[00:18:21]What he's omitted here is the many, many difficult steps that there are to producing new currency that cannot be counterfeited. And that is usually a many yearslong process involving not just the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, but also the Secret Service, the Federal Reserve, other agencies. You know, when you see a new bit of currency produced, like the $100 bill that came out somewhat recently, there's dozens of embedded security features in there that those government agencies have all agreed upon together so the currency is viable and so that, you know, it cannot be counterfeited or otherwise misused.

[00:18:55]>> Um, just to be clear, has anyone ever suggested that America needs new denominations of currency, particularly $250?

[00:19:05]>> Oh, man. And I mean there there have been different ideas over the years about proposing different coins or currencies. Some of them are collectibles though and not actual fiscal notes that you know bear the backing of the US Treasury. So I I mean history is long. They've been doing this over 150 years and there have been a lot of ideas. I don't know that this has an economic value to it. You know it really is celebratory of President Trump and celebratory of the nation's birthday. I just don't think that the Treasury Secretary is being I think frank about the obstacles to making this happen and the difficulties of producing such a note. Um the there was talk of President Trump's signature being printed on US currency. Has that ever been done before of a president a sitting president having their signature on the currency and and where does that stand?

[00:19:52]>> There has never Exactly. There's never been currency with a sitting president's signature on it. Right now, Anderson, which is in the story that we published today, right now, the country is printing $100 notes with President Trump's signature on them. The public has not seen them yet. They're going to be I don't know the timing of when they will be they will be released, but we know this because current and former employees of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing spoke out about it and at some point those will be released. Again, I don't know when, but they are being printed right this moment in downtown Washington.

[00:20:25]Tonight, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant is defending this possible new $250 bill with Donald Trump's face on it. All to commemorate America's 250th birthday.

[00:20:37]>> I don't think that the there's anything unourred about having the president of the United States that the person who was president of the United States on the 250th anniversary bill.

[00:20:49]It is against federal law though to put a living person on US currency. Bessent says the Treasury Department is just preparing the design and waiting for Congress to act. Republican Congressman Joe Wilson actually proposed legislation last year to bring this about. Everyone is here with me. Jamal.

[00:21:09]>> So Besson did to his credit he did acknowledge he's like it they're only going to do it. He acknowledges it's illegal. They will only do it if Congress acts. Um, but when he says there's nothing unourred about it, what do you think about it?

[00:21:23]>> Well, there's nothing else for them to do, right?

[00:21:26]>> No other issues going happening in the country. They ought to just spend some legislative time doing this. Listen, the American people are in the middle of a great price hike that's been happening.

[00:21:35]Gas prices are taking over everyone's wallet and now here we are going to put the president's face on a bill. It just seems like we ought to be focused on other things right now, not that. I mean I one thing I just like what does it cost it costs money to make money like it costs something to do this and like that is going to be a true conversation but it's also Gretchen it's it's not just one bank note like it's not just one like commemorative thing I mean the list let me begin it's the state department issuing passports for people in DC with Trump's face there's the commemorative coin of course which they're now pushing for to be as large as possible and and the National Park Pass, which will now feature Donald Trump and George Washington and the Arch and the Kennedy Center. I mean, what do you do with this?

[00:22:23]>> Well, we know this about Trump. I mean, all you have to do is go down New York City streets and see Trump on every single building until people started wanting to take down the name. So, this is his ego speaking and it just happens to be that he's president on the 250th anniversary. So, it's perfect timing for him. Did you know, however, though, that it supposedly takes 10 years to design and develop bills like this for security purposes because you now with counterfeit and all that, you know, how they hold them up to the light and try and figure out if they're real or not.

[00:22:54]So, I'm not even so sure if Congress would actually say yes to this, which I don't think they will.

[00:22:58]>> That's red tape. WE'RE BREAKING THROUGH IT.

[00:23:00]>> But but so, so we're going to get the 250th anniversary bill in 2036.

[00:23:06]And by the way, can we put it up again for a minute? I I would think Trump would be very upset with his hair.

[00:23:11]>> Why?

[00:23:12]>> Look at his hair.

[00:23:13]>> I think there's just good volume.

[00:23:14]>> Well, no. It's usually perfectly quafted like over here. So, if anything, I would I would think he would not choose this photo.

[00:23:20]>> Would it It's a word that in in the biz I actually typically actually hate. But this one, it actually applies. Like, do optics matter here?

[00:23:30]>> Yes. I'm in no position to talk about hair, but I will tell you that it looks really menacing. It looks really mean.

[00:23:37]He loves.

[00:23:38]>> They call it like the grumpy 250. I mean, it's it's also deeply inappropriate, unacceptable, and I would argue unamerican. I mean, this is not what we do in America. That's what they do in North Korea. That's what they do in Russia. And I don't think it's going to do well with most Americans. But he doesn't seem to be too concerned about popularity lately. I mean, knocking down the White House, putting up the arch, I mean, the war in Iran, he is all gas, no breaks, and he doesn't care about public opinion. And this is just the latest example.

[00:24:03]>> Was predicted, it was predictable, and now it may actually be printed. The Treasury Department is making plans to put President Trump's face on a new $250 bill for the nation's 250th birthday.

[00:24:13]The Washington Post was first to report this, obtain a mockup of it. They report that employees at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing were pressured by Trump appointees to begin work on the bill. But the law does not allow for living presidents to actually be on currency. CNN's Caitlyn Collins asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent about the Washington Post report.

[00:24:32]terribly written, terribly edited because basically what what it says is that Treas Treasury is following the law and that we've created the bill and that it's up to Congress, but that we follow the bill and it's up to I didn't really understand what the story was appointees aren't involved in that two of your political appointees.

[00:24:51]>> Yeah, of course. But we we prepare for everything if it gets passed. I I don't think that the there's anything unourred about having the president of the United States that the person who was president of the United States on the 250th anniversary bill.

[00:25:05]>> Well, the government now has Trump gold cards, Trump accounts, Trump RX. They've renamed the Kennedy Center the Trump Kennedy Center and the Donald J. Trump US Institute of Peace and put his face on the National Parks Pass, not to mention his face on a giant banner hanging from the Department of Justice.

[00:25:19]Washington Post reporter Jonathan Okonnell is on the by line. He joins me now. So, what did you learn about the genesis of this and where it's headed?

[00:25:28]>> Thanks, Anderson. Uh, you know, there's, as you mentioned, there's a number of reasons and ways that the president would like to celebrate the nation's 250th birthday. Um, this is one of them.

[00:25:38]That's the reason for the $250 note. Um, and like you mentioned, also, a lot of these celebrations uh involve either his name or his likeness, his image. Um, we're doing things on his birthday. So, I think this fits very well into those other celebrations.

[00:25:54]>> I mean, the the photo on the bill, it looks I mean, it's that kind of ominous photo that I guess he likes. It it's quite stark compared to other presidents on other bills. Can you explain the federal law says what federal law says about new currency and who gets to appear on it?

[00:26:11]>> Yes, they've got two legal problems here. uh one is as you mentioned there's no US currency does not presently allowed to ha have any living person on there you must be deceased the second is there's another law that so show shows exactly the denominations of currency that the US may print which is the $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100. I think there's a couple higher ones than that that are illegal, but 250 is not in there. And the the Treasury Secretary is correct that passing legislation would potentially solve some of these things.

[00:26:42]What he's omitted here is the many many difficult steps that there are to producing new currency that cannot be counterfeited. And that is usually a many yearslong process involving not just the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, but also the Secret Service, the Federal Reserve, other agencies. You know, when you see a new bit of currency produced, like the $100 bill that came out somewhat recently, there's dozens of embedded security features in there that those government agencies have all agreed upon together so the currency is viable and so that, you know, it cannot be counterfeited or otherwise misused.

[00:27:15]>> Um, just to be clear, has anyone ever suggested that America needs new denominations of currency, particularly $250?

[00:27:25]>> Oh, man. And I mean there there have been different ideas over the years about proposing different coins or currencies. Some of them are collectibles though and not actual fiscal notes that you know bear the backing of the US Treasury. So I I mean his history is long. They've been doing this over 150 years and there have been a lot of ideas. I don't know that this has an economic value to it. You know it really is celebratory of President Trump and celebratory of the nation's birthday. I just don't think that the Treasury Secretary is being I think frank about the obstacles to making this happen and the difficulties of producing such a note. Um the there was talk of President Trump's signature being printed on US currency. Has that ever been done before of a president a sitting president having their signature on the currency and and where does that stand?

[00:28:12]>> There has never Exactly. There's never been currency with a sitting president's signature on it. And right now, Anderson, which is in the story that we published today, right now, the country is printing $100 notes with President Trump's signature on them. The public has not seen them yet. They're going to be I don't know the timing of when they will be they will be released, but we know this because current and former employees of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing spoke out about it and at some point those will be released. Again, I don't know when, but they are being printed right this moment in downtown Washington.

[00:28:45]Tonight, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant is defending this possible new $250 bill with Donald Trump's face on it. All to commemorate America's 250th birthday.

[00:28:57]>> I don't think that the there's anything unourred about having the president of the United States that the person who was president of the United States on the 250th anniversary bill.

[00:29:09]It is against federal law though to put a living person on US currency. Bessant says the Treasury Department is just preparing the design and waiting for Congress to act. Republican Congressman Joe Wilson actually proposed legislation last year to bring this about. Everyone is here with me. Jamal.

[00:29:30]>> So Besson did to his credit he did acknowledge. He's like it they're only going to do it. He acknowledges it's illegal. They will only do it if Congress acts. Um, but when he says there's nothing unourred about it, what do you think about it?

[00:29:43]>> Well, there's nothing else for them to do, right? No other issues going happening in the country. They ought to just spend some legislative time doing this. Listen, the American people are in the middle of a great price hike that's been happening. Gas prices are taking over everyone's wallet, and now here we are going to put the president's face on a bill. It just seems like we ought to be focused on other things right now, not that. I mean I one thing I just like what does it cost it costs money to make money like it costs something to do this and like that is going to be a true conversation but it's also Gretchen it's it's not just one bank note like it's not just one like commemorative thing I mean the list let me begin it's the state department issuing passports for people in DC with Trump's face there's the commemorative coin of course which they're now pushing for to be as large as possible and and the National Park Pass, which will now feature Donald Trump and George Washington and the Arch and the Kennedy Center. I mean, what do you do with this?

[00:30:43]>> Well, we know this about Trump. I mean, all you have to do is go down New York City streets and see Trump on every single building until people started wanting to take down the name. So, this is his ego speaking and it just happens to be that he's president on the 250th anniversary. So, it's perfect timing for him. Did you know, however, though, that it supposedly takes 10 years to design and develop bills like this for security purposes because you, you know, with counterfeit and all that, you know, how they hold them up to the light and try and figure out if they're real or not.

[00:31:14]So, I'm not even so sure if Congress would actually say yes to this, which I don't think they will.

[00:31:18]>> That's red tape. WE'RE BREAKING THROUGH IT, >> BUT BUT so so we're going to get the 250th anniversary bill in 2036.

[00:31:26]And by the way, can we put it up again for a minute? I I would think Trump would be very upset with his hair.

[00:31:31]>> Why?

[00:31:32]>> Look at his hair.

[00:31:33]>> I think there's just good volume.

[00:31:35]>> Well, no. It's usually perfectly quafted like over here. So, if anything, I would I would think he would not choose this photo.

[00:31:40]>> Would it It's a a word that in in the biz I actually typically actually hate. But this one, it actually applies. Like, do optics matter here?

[00:31:51]>> Yes. I'm in no position to talk about hair, but I will tell you that it looks really menacing. It looks really mean.

[00:31:58]They call it like the grumpy 250. I mean, it's it's also deeply inappropriate, unacceptable, and I would argue unamerican. I mean, this is not what we do in America. That's what they do in North Korea. That's what they do in Russia. And I don't think it's going to do well with most Americans. But he doesn't seem to be too concerned about popularity lately. I mean, knocking down the White House, putting up the arch, I mean, the war in Iran, he is all gas, no breaks, and he doesn't care about public opinion. And this is just the latest example.

[00:32:23]>> Was predicted, it was predictable, and now it may actually be printed. The Treasury Department is making plans to put President Trump's face on a new $250 bill for the nation's 250th birthday.

[00:32:33]The Washington Post was first to report this, obtain a mockup of it. They report that employees at the bureau of engraving and printing were pressured by Trump appointees to begin work on the bill. But the law does not allow for living presidents to actually be on currency. CNN's Caitlyn Collins asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant about the Washington Post report.

[00:32:53]terribly written, terribly edited because basically what what it says is that Treas Treasury is following the law and that we've created the bill and that it's up to Congress, but that we follow the bill and it's up to I didn't really understand what the story was aren't involved in that two of your political appointees.

[00:33:11]>> Yeah, of course. But we we prepare for everything if it gets passed. I I don't think that the there's anything untored about having the president of the United States that the person who was president of the United States on the 250th anniversary built.

[00:33:26]>> Well, the government now has Trump gold cards, Trump accounts, Trump RX. They've renamed the Kennedy Center, the Trump Kennedy Center, and the Donald J. Trump US Institute of Peace and put his face on the National Parks Pass, not to mention his face on a giant banner hanging from the Department of Justice.

[00:33:40]Washington Post reporter Jonathan Okonnell is on the by line. He joins me now. So, what did you learn about the genesis of this and where it's headed?

[00:33:48]>> Thanks, Anderson. Uh, you know, there's, as you mentioned, there's a number of reasons and ways that the president would like to celebrate the nation's 250th birthday. Um, this is one of them.

[00:33:58]That's the reason for the $250 note. Um, and like you mentioned also, a lot of these celebrations uh involve either his name or his likeness, his image. Um, we're doing things on his birthday. So, I think this fits very well into those other celebrations.

[00:34:14]>> I mean, the the photo of on the bill, it looks I mean, it's that kind of ominous photo that I guess he likes it. It's quite stark compared to other presidents on other bills. Can you explain the federal law says, what federal law says about new currency and who gets to appear on it?

[00:34:32]>> Yes, they've got two legal problems here. Uh, one is, as you mentioned, there's no US currency is not presently allowed to h have any living person on there. you must be deceased. The second is there's another law that so shows exactly the denominations of currency that the US may print, which is the $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100. I think there's a couple higher ones than that that are illegal, but 250 is not in there. And the the Treasury Secretary is correct that passing legislation would potentially solve some of these things.

[00:35:02]What he's omitted here is the many many difficult steps that there are to producing new currency that cannot be counterfeited. And that is usually a many yearslong process involving not just the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, but also the Secret Service, the Federal Reserve, other agencies. You know, when you see a new bit of currency produced, like the $100 bill that came out somewhat recently, there's dozens of embedded security features in there that those government agencies have all agreed upon together so the currency is viable and so that, you know, it cannot be counterfeited or otherwise misused.

[00:35:36]>> Um, just to be clear, has anyone ever suggested that America needs new denominations of currency, particularly $250?

[00:35:46]>> Oh, man. And I mean there there have been different ideas over the years about proposing different coins or currencies. Some of them are collectibles though and not actual fiscal notes that you know bear the backing of the US Treasury. So I can't I mean history is long. They've been doing this over 150 years and there have been a lot of ideas. I don't know that this has an economic value to it. You know it really is celebratory of President Trump and celebratory of the nation's birthday. I just don't think that the Treasury Secretary is being I think frank about the obstacles to making this happen and the difficulties of producing such a note. Um the there was talk of President Trump's signature being printed on US currency. Has that ever been done before of a president a sitting president having their signature on the currency and and where does that stand?

[00:36:32]>> There has never Exactly. There's never been currency with a sitting president's signature on it. Right now, Anderson, which is in the story that we published today, right now, the country is printing $100 notes with President Trump's signature on them. The public has not seen them yet. They're going to be I don't know the timing of when they will be they will be released, but we know this because current and former employees of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing spoke out about it. And at some point, those will be released. Again, I don't know when, but they are being printed right this moment in downtown Washington.

[00:37:05]Tonight, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant is defending this possible new $250 bill with Donald Trump's face on it. All to commemorate America's 250th birthday.

[00:37:18]>> I don't think that the there's anything untored about having the president of the United States that the person who was president of the United States on the 250th anniversary bill.

[00:37:29]It is against federal law though to put a living person on US currency. Bessent says the Treasury Department is just preparing the design and waiting for Congress to act. Republican Congressman Joe Wilson actually proposed legislation last year to bring this about. Everyone is here with me. Jamal.

[00:37:50]>> So Besson did to his credit he did acknowledge he's like it they're only going to do it. He acknowledges it's illegal. They will only do it if Congress acts. Um, but when he says there's nothing unourred about it, what do you think about it?

[00:38:03]>> Well, there's nothing else for them to do, right?

[00:38:06]>> No other issues going happening in the country. They ought to just spend some legislative time doing this. Listen, the American people are in the middle of a great price hike that's been happening.

[00:38:16]Gas prices are taking over everyone's wallet and now here we are going to put the president's face on a bill. It just seems like we ought to be focused on other things right now, not that. I mean I one thing I just like what does it cost it costs money to make money like it costs something to do this and like that is going to be a true conversation but it's also Gretchen it's it's not just one bank note like it's not just one like commemorative thing I mean the list let me begin it's the state department issuing passports for people in DC with Trump's face there's the commemorative coin of course which they're now pushing for it to be as large as possible and and the National Park Pass, which will now feature Donald Trump and George Washington and the Arch and the Kennedy Center. I mean, what do you do with this?

[00:39:04]>> Well, we know this about Trump. I mean, all you have to do is go down New York City streets and see Trump on every single building until people started wanting to take down the name. So, this is his ego speaking and it just happens to be that he's president on the 250th anniversary. So, it's perfect timing for him. Did you know, however, though, that it supposedly takes 10 years to design and develop bills like this for security purposes because you, you know, with counterfeit and all that, you know, how they hold them up to the light and try and figure out if they're real or not.

[00:39:34]So, I'm not even so sure if Congress would actually say yes to this, which I don't think they will.

[00:39:39]>> THAT'S RED TAPE. WE'RE BRINGING >> BUT BUT SO SO we're going to get the 250th anniversary bill in 2036.

[00:39:46]And by the way, can we put it up again for a minute? I I would think Trump would be very upset with his hair.

[00:39:51]>> Why?

[00:39:52]>> Look at his hair.

[00:39:53]>> I think there's just good volume.

[00:39:55]>> Well, no. It's usually perfectly quafted like over here. So, if anything, I would I would think he would not choose this photo.

[00:40:01]>> What it it's a word that in in the biz I actually typically actually hate. But this one, it actually applies. Like, do optics matter here?

[00:40:11]>> Yes. I'm in no position to talk about hair, but I will tell you that it looks really menacing. It looks really mean.

[00:40:18]They call it like the grumpy 250. I mean, it's it's also deeply inappropriate, unacceptable, and I would argue unamerican. I mean, this is not what we do in America. That's what they do in North Korea. That's what they do in Russia. And I don't think it's going to do well with most Americans. But he doesn't seem to be too concerned about popularity lately. I mean, knocking down the White House, putting up the arch, I mean, the war in Iran, he is all gas, no breaks, and he doesn't care about public opinion. And this is just the latest example.

[00:40:43]>> Was predicted, it was predictable, and now it may actually be printed. The Treasury Department is making plans to put President Trump's face on a new $250 bill for the nation's 250th birthday.

[00:40:54]The Washington Post was first to report this, obtain a mockup of it. They report that employees at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing were pressured by Trump appointees to begin work on the bill. But the law does not allow for living presidents to actually be on currency. CNN's Caitlyn Collins asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant about the Washington Post report.

[00:41:13]terribly written, terribly edited because basically what what it says is that Treasur Treasury is following the law and that we've created the bill and that it's up to Congress, but that we follow the bill and it's up to I didn't really understand what the story was >> appointees aren't involved in that two of your political appointees.

[00:41:32]>> Yeah, of course. But we we prepare for everything if it gets passed. I I don't think that the there's anything unourred about having the president of the United States that the person who was president of the United States on the 250th anniversary bill.

[00:41:46]>> Well, the government now has Trump gold cards, Trump accounts, Trump RX. They've renamed the Kennedy Center the Trump Kennedy Center and the Donald J. Trump US Institute of Peace and put his face on the National Parks Pass, not to mention his face on a giant banner hanging from the Department of Justice.

[00:42:00]Washington Post reporter Jonathan Okonnell is on the by line. He joins me now. So, what did you learn about the genesis of this and where it's headed?

[00:42:09]>> Thanks, Anderson. Uh, you know, there's, as you mentioned, there's a number of reasons and ways that the president would like to celebrate the nation's 250th birthday. Um, this is one of them.

[00:42:18]That's the reason for the $250 note. Um, and like you mentioned also, a lot of these celebrations uh involve either his name or his likeness, his image. Um, we're doing things on his birthday. So, I think this fits very well into those other celebrations.

[00:42:34]>> I mean, the the photo of on the bill, it looks I mean, it's that kind of ominous photo that I guess he likes it. It's quite stark compared to other presidents on other bills. Can you explain the federal law says what federal law says about new currency and who gets to appear on it?

[00:42:52]>> Yes, they've got two legal problems here. Uh, one is, as you mentioned, there's no US currency is not presently allowed to h have any living person on there. you must be deceased. The second is there's another law that so shows exactly the denominations of currency that the US may print, which is the $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100, and I think there's a couple higher ones than that that are illegal, but $250 is not in there. And the the Treasury Secretary is correct that passing legislation would potentially solve some of these things.

[00:43:22]What he's omitted here is the many, many difficult steps that there are to producing new currency that cannot be counterfeited. And that is usually a many yearslong process involving not just the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, but also the Secret Service, the Federal Reserve, other agencies. You know, when you see a new bit of currency produced, like the $100 bill that came out somewhat recently, there's dozens of embedded security features in there that those government agencies have all agreed upon together so the currency is viable and so that, you know, it cannot be counterfeited or otherwise misused.

[00:43:56]>> Um, just to be clear, has anyone ever suggested that America needs new denominations of currency, particularly $250?

[00:44:06]>> Oh, man. And I mean there there have been different ideas over the years about proposing different coins or currencies. Some of them are collectibles though and not actual fiscal notes that you know bear the backing of the US Treasury. So I can't I mean his history is long. They've been doing this over 150 years and there have been a lot of ideas. I don't know that this has an economic value to it. You know it really is celebratory of President Trump and celebratory of the nation's birthday. I just don't think that the Treasury Secretary is being I think frank about the obstacles to making this happen and the difficulties of producing such a note. Um the there was talk of President Trump's signature being printed on US currency. Has that ever been done before of a president a sitting president having their signature on the currency and and where does that stand?

[00:44:53]>> There has never Exactly. There's never been currency with a sitting president's signature on it. And right now, Anderson, which is in the story that we published today, right now, the country is printing $100 notes with President Trump's signature on them. The public has not seen them yet. They're going to be I don't know the timing of when they will be they will be released, but we know this because current and former employees of the Bureau of Graving and Printing spoke out about it. And at some point, those will be released. Again, I don't know when, but they are being printed right this moment in downtown Washington.

[00:45:26]Tonight, Treasury Secretary Scott Besson is defending this possible new $250 bill with Donald Trump's face on it. All to commemorate America's 250th birthday.

[00:45:38]>> I don't think that the there's anything untored about having the president of the United States that the person who was president of the United States on the 250th anniversary bill.

[00:45:50]It is against federal law though to put a living person on US currency. Bessant says the Treasury Department is just preparing the design and waiting for Congress to act. Republican Congressman Joe Wilson actually proposed legislation last year to bring this about. Everyone is here with me. Jamal.

[00:46:10]>> So Besson did to his credit he did acknowledge he's like it they're only going to do it. He acknowledges it's illegal. They will only do it if Congress acts. Um, but when he says there's nothing unourred about it, what do you think about it?

[00:46:24]>> Well, there's nothing else for them to do, right?

[00:46:27]>> No other issues going happening in the country. They ought to just spend some legislative time doing this. Listen, the American people are in the middle of a great price hike that's been happening.

[00:46:36]Gas prices are taking over everyone's wallet, and now here we are going to put the president's face on a bill. It just seems like we ought to be focused on other things right now, not that. I mean I one thing I just like what does it cost it costs money to make money like it costs something to do this and like that is going to be a true conversation but it's also Gretchen it's it's not just one bank note like it's not just one like commemorative thing I mean the list let me begin it's the state department issuing passports for people in DC with Trump's face there's the commemorative coin of course which they're now pushing for to be as large as possible and the National Park Pass, which will now feature Donald Trump and George Washington and the Arch and the Kennedy Center. I mean, what do you do with this?

[00:47:24]>> Well, we know this about Trump. I mean, all you have to do is go down New York City streets and see Trump on every single building until people started wanting to take down the name. So, this is his ego speaking. And it just happens to be that he's president on the 250th anniversary. So, it's perfect timing for him. Did you know, however, though, that it supposedly takes 10 years to design and develop bills like this for security purposes because you, you know, with counterfeit and all that, you know, how they hold them up to the light and try and figure out if they're real or not.

[00:47:55]So, I'm not even so sure if Congress would actually say yes to this, which I don't think they will.

[00:47:59]>> That's red tape. WE'RE BREAKING THROUGH IT.

[00:48:01]>> BUT, but that So, so we're going to get the 250th anniversary bill in 2036.

[00:48:07]And by the way, can we put it up again for a minute? I I would think Trump would be very upset with his hair.

[00:48:12]>> Why?

[00:48:13]>> Look at his hair.

[00:48:14]>> I think there's just good volume.

[00:48:15]>> Well, no. It's usually perfectly quafted like over here. So, if anything, I would I would think he would not choose this photo.

[00:48:21]>> Would it It's a a word that in in the biz I actually typically actually hate, but this one it actually applies. Like, do optics matter here?

[00:48:31]>> Yes. I'm in no position to talk about hair, but I will tell you that it looks really menacing. It looks really mean.

[00:48:38]Sure, he loves.

[00:48:39]>> They call it like the grumpy 250. I mean, it's it's also deeply inappropriate, unacceptable, and I would argue unamerican. I mean, this is not what we do in America. That's what they do in North Korea. That's what they do in Russia. And I don't think it's going to do well with most Americans. But he doesn't seem to be too concerned about popularity lately. I mean, knocking down the White House, putting up the arch, I mean, the war in Iran, he is all gas, no breaks, and he doesn't care about public opinion. And this is just the latest example.

[00:49:04]>> Was predicted, it was predictable, and now it may actually be printed. The Treasury Department is making plans to put President Trump's face on a new $250 bill for the nation's 250th birthday.

[00:49:14]The Washington Post was first to report this, obtain a mockup of it. They report that employees at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing were pressured by Trump appointees to begin work on the bill. But the law does not allow for living presidents to actually be on currency. CNN's Caitlyn Collins asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent about the Washington Post report.

[00:49:34]terribly written, terribly edited because basically what what it says is that Treas Treasury is following the law and that we've created the bill and that it's up to Congress, but that we follow the bill and it's up to I didn't really understand what the story was.

[00:49:47]>> So aren't involved in that. Two of your political appointees.

[00:49:52]>> Yeah, of course. But we we prepare for everything if it gets passed. I I don't think that the there's anything unourred about having the president of the United States that the person who was president of the United States on the 250th anniversary bill.

[00:50:06]>> Well, the government now has Trump gold cards, Trump accounts, Trump RX. They've renamed the Kennedy Center the Trump Kennedy Center and the Donald J. Trump US Institute of Peace and put his face on the National Parks Pass, not to mention his face on a giant banner hanging from the Department of Justice.

[00:50:21]Washington Post reporter Jonathan Okonnell is on the by line. He joins me now. So, what did you learn about the genesis of this and where it's headed?

[00:50:29]>> Thanks, Anderson. Uh, you know, there's, as you mentioned, there's a number of reasons and ways that the president would like to celebrate the nation's 250th birthday. Um, this is one of them.

[00:50:39]That's the reason for the $250 note. Um, and like you mentioned, also, a lot of these celebrations uh involve either his name or his likeness, his image. Um, we're doing things on his birthday. So, I think this fits very well into those other celebrations.

[00:50:55]>> I mean, the the photo on the bill, it looks I mean, it's that kind of ominous photo that I guess he likes. It it's quite stark compared to other presidents on other bills. Can you explain the federal law says what federal law says about new currency and who gets to appear on it?

[00:51:12]>> Yes, they've got two legal problems here. uh one is as you mentioned there's no US currency does not presently allowed to ha have any living person on there you must be deceased the second is there's another law that so show shows exactly the denominations of currency that the US may print which is the $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100. I think there's a couple higher ones than that that are illegal, but 250 is not in there. And the Treasury Secretary is correct that passing legislation would potentially solve some of these things.

[00:51:43]What he's omitted here is the many many difficult steps that there are to producing new currency that cannot be counterfeited. And that is usually a many yearslong process involving not just the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, but also the Secret Service, the Federal Reserve, other agencies. You know, when you see a new bit of currency produced, like the $100 bill that came out somewhat recently, there's dozens of embedded security features in there that those government agencies have all agreed upon together so the currency is viable and so that, you know, it cannot be counterfeited or otherwise misused.

[00:52:16]>> Um, just to be clear, has anyone ever suggested that America needs new denominations of currency, particularly $250?

[00:52:26]>> Oh, man. And I mean there there have been different ideas over the years about proposing different coins or currencies. Some of them are collectibles though and not actual fiscal notes that you know bear the backing of the US Treasury. So I I mean his history is long. They've been doing this over 150 years and there have been a lot of ideas. I don't know that this has an economic value to it. You know it really is celebratory of President Trump and celebratory of the nation's birthday. I just don't think that the Treasury Secretary is being, I think, frank about the obstacles to making this happen and the difficulties of producing such a note. Um the there was talk of President Trump's signature being printed on US currency. Has that ever been done before of a president, a sitting president having their signature on the currency and and where does that stand?

[00:53:13]>> There has never Exactly. There's never been currency with a sitting president's signature on it. And right now, Anderson, which is in the story that we published today, right now, the country is printing $100 notes with President Trump's signature on them. The public has not seen them yet. They're going to be I don't know the timing of when they will be they will be released, but we know this because current and former employees of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing spoke out about it. And at some point, those will be released. Again, I don't know when, but they are being printed right this moment in downtown Washington.

[00:53:46]Tonight, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant is defending this possible new $250 bill with Donald Trump's face on it. All to commemorate America's 250th birthday.

[00:53:59]>> I don't think that the there's anything unourred about having the president of the United States that the person who was president of the United States on the 250th anniversary bill.

[00:54:10]It is against federal law though to put a living person on US currency. Bessant says the Treasury Department is just preparing the design and waiting for Congress to act. Republican Congressman Joe Wilson actually proposed legislation last year to bring this about. Everyone is here with me. Jamal.

[00:54:31]>> So Besson did to his credit he did acknowledge. He's like it they're only going to do it. He acknowledges it's illegal. They will only do it if Congress acts. Um, but when he says there's nothing unourred about it, what do you think about it?

[00:54:44]>> Well, there's nothing else for them to do, right? No other issues going happening in the country. They ought to just spend some legislative time doing this. Listen, the American people are in the middle of a great price hike that's been happening. Gas prices are taking over everyone's wallet and now here we are going to put the president's face on a bill. It just seems like we ought to be focused on other things right now, not that. I mean I one thing I just like what does it cost it costs money to make money like it costs something to do this and like that is going to be a true conversation but it's also Gretchen it's it's not just one bank note like it's not just one like commemorative thing I mean the list let me begin it's the state department issuing passports for people in DC with Trump's face there's the commemorative coin of course which they're now pushing for to be as large as possible and and the National Park Pass, which will now feature Donald Trump and George Washington and the Arch and the Kennedy Center. I mean, what do you do with this?

[00:55:44]>> Well, we know this about Trump. I mean, all you have to do is go down New York City streets and see Trump on every single building until people started wanting to take down the name. So, this is his ego speaking and it just happens to be that he's president on the 250th anniversary. So, it's perfect timing for him. Did you know, however, though, that it supposedly takes 10 years to design and develop bills like this for security purposes? Because you, you know, with counterfeit and all that, you know, how they hold them up to the light and try and figure out if they're real or not.

[00:56:15]So, I'm not even so sure if Congress would actually say yes to this, which I don't think they will.

[00:56:19]>> That's red tape. WE'RE BREAKING THROUGH IT.

[00:56:21]>> BUT, BUT SO, so we're going to get the 250th anniversary bill in 2036.

[00:56:27]And by the way, can we put it up again for a minute? I I would think Trump would be very upset with his hair.

[00:56:32]>> Why?

[00:56:33]>> Look at his hair.

[00:56:34]>> I think there's just good volume.

[00:56:36]>> Well, no. It's usually perfectly quafted like over here. So, if anything, I would I would think he would not choose this photo.

[00:56:41]>> Would it It's a a word that in in the biz I actually typically actually hate. But this one, it actually applies. Like, do optics matter here?

[00:56:52]>> Yes. I'm in no position to talk about hair, but I will tell you that it looks really menacing. It looks really mean.

[00:56:59]They call it like the grumpy 250. I mean, it's it's also deeply inappropriate, unacceptable, and I would argue unamerican. I mean, this is not what we do in America. That's what they do in North Korea. That's what they do in Russia. And I don't think it's going to do well with most Americans. But he doesn't seem to be too concerned about popularity lately. I mean, knocking down the White House, putting up the arch, I mean, the war in Iran, he is all gas, no breaks, and he doesn't care about public opinion. And this is just the latest example.

[00:57:24]>> Was predicted, it was predictable, and now it may actually be printed. The Treasury Department is making plans to put President Trump's face on a new $250 bill for the nation's 250th birthday.

[00:57:35]The Washington Post was first to report this, obtain a mockup of it. They report that employees at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing were pressured by Trump appointees to begin work on the bill. But the law does not allow for living presidents to actually be on currency. CNN's Caitlyn Collins asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant about the Washington Post report.

[00:57:54]terribly written, terribly edited because basically what what it says is that Treasur Treasury is following the law and that we've created the bill and that it's up to Congress, but that we follow the bill and it's up to I didn't really understand what the story was aren't involved in that two of your political appointees.

[00:58:12]>> Yeah, of course. But we we prepare for everything if it gets passed. I I don't think that the there's anything unourred about having the president of the United States that the person who was president of the United States on the 250th anniversary bill.

[00:58:27]>> Well, the government now has Trump gold cards, Trump accounts, Trump RX. They've renamed the Kennedy Center the Trump Kennedy Center and the Donald J. Trump US Institute of Peace and put his face on the National Parks Pass, not to mention his face on a giant banner hanging from the Department of Justice.

[00:58:41]Washington Post reporter Jonathan Okonnell is on the by line. He joins me now. So, what did you learn about the genesis of this and where it's headed?

[00:58:50]>> Thanks, Anderson. Uh, you know, there's, as you mentioned, there's a number of reasons and ways that the president would like to celebrate the nation's 250th birthday. Um, this is one of them.

[00:58:59]That's the reason for the $250 note. Um, and like you mentioned also, a lot of these celebrations uh involve either his name or his likeness, his image. Um, we're doing things on his birthday. So, I think this fits very well into those other celebrations.

[00:59:15]>> I mean, the the photo of on the bill, it looks I mean, it's that kind of ominous photo that I guess he likes it. It's quite stark compared to other presidents on other bills. Can you explain the federal law says what federal law says about new currency and who gets to appear on it?

[00:59:33]>> Yes, they've got two legal problems here. Uh, one is, as you mentioned, there's no US currency is not presently allowed to h have any living person on there. you must be deceased. The second is there's another law that so shows exactly the denominations of currency that the US may print, which is the $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100. I think there's a couple higher ones than that that are illegal, but 250 is not in there. And the the Treasury Secretary is correct that passing legislation would potentially solve some of these things.

[01:00:03]What he's omitted here is the many, many difficult steps that there are to producing new currency that cannot be counterfeited. And that is usually a many yearslong process involving not just the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, but also the Secret Service, the Federal Reserve, other agencies. You know, when you see a new bit of currency produced, like the $100 bill that came out somewhat recently, there's dozens of embedded security features in there that those government agencies have all agreed upon together so the currency is viable and so that, you know, it cannot be counterfeited or otherwise misused.

[01:00:37]>> Um, just to be clear, has anyone ever suggested that America needs new denominations of currency, particularly $250?

[01:00:47]>> Oh, man. And I mean there there have been different ideas over the years about proposing different coins or currencies. Some of them are collectibles though and not actual fiscal notes that you know bear the backing of the US Treasury. So I I mean history is long. They've been doing this over 150 years and there have been a lot of ideas. I don't know that this has uh an economic value to it. You know it really is celebratory of President Trump and celebratory of the nation's birthday. I just don't think that the Treasury Secretary is being I think frank about the obstacles to making this happen and the difficulties of producing such a note. Um the there was talk of President Trump's signature being printed on US currency. Has that ever been done before of a president a sitting president having their signature on the currency and and where does that stand?

[01:01:34]>> There has never Exactly. There's never been currency with a sitting president's signature on it. And right now, Anderson, which is in the story that we published today, right now, the country is printing $100 notes with President Trump's signature on them. The public has not seen them yet. They're going to be I don't know the timing of when they will be they will be released, but we know this because current and former employees of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing spoke out about it. And at some point, those will be released. Again, I don't know when, but they are being printed right this moment in downtown Washington.

[01:02:07]Tonight, Treasury Secretary Scott Besson is defending this possible new $250 bill with Donald Trump's face on it. All to commemorate America's 250th birthday.

[01:02:19]>> I don't think that the there's anything unfort.

[01:02:31]It is against federal law though to put a living person on US currency. Bessant says the Treasury Department is just preparing the design and waiting for Congress to act. Republican Congressman Joe Wilson actually proposed legislation last year to bring this about. Everyone is here with me. Jamal.

[01:02:51]>> So Besson did, to his credit, he did acknowledge he's like it they're only going to do it. He acknowledges it's illegal. They will only do it if Congress acts. Um, but when he says there's nothing unourred about it, what do you think about it?

[01:03:05]>> Well, there's nothing else for them to do, right? No other issues go happening in the country. They ought to just spend some legislative time doing this.

[01:03:12]Listen, the American people are in the middle of a great price hike that's been happening. Gas prices are taking over everyone's wallet and now here we are going to put the president's face on a bill. It just seems like we ought to be focused on other things right now, not that. I mean I one thing I just like what does it cost it costs money to make money like it costs something to do this and like that is going to be a true conversation but it's also Gretchen it's it's not just one bank note like it's not just one like commemorative thing I mean the list let me begin it's the state department issuing passports for people in DC with Trump's face there's the commemorative coin of course which they're now pushing for to be as large as possible and the National Park Pass, which will now feature Donald Trump and George Washington and the Arch and the Kennedy Center. I mean, what do you do with this?

[01:04:05]>> Well, we know this about Trump. I mean, all you have to do is go down New York City streets and see Trump on every single building until people started wanting to take down the name. So, this is his ego speaking. And it just happens to be that he's president on the 250th anniversary. So, it's perfect timing for him. Did you know, however, though, that it supposedly takes 10 years to design and develop bills like this for security purposes because you you now with counterfeit and all that, you know, how they hold them up to the light and try and figure out if they're real or not.

[01:04:36]So, I'm not even so sure if Congress would actually say yes to this, which I don't think they will.

[01:04:40]>> That's red TAPE AND BREAKING THROUGH IT.

[01:04:42]>> BUT, BUT THAT SO, so we're going to get the 250th anniversary bill in 2036.

[01:04:48]And by the way, can we put it up again for a minute? I I would think Trump would be very upset with his hair.

[01:04:53]>> Why?

[01:04:54]>> Look at his hair.

[01:04:55]>> I think there's just good volume.

[01:04:56]>> Well, no. It's usually perfectly quafted like over here. So, if anything, I would I would think he would not choose this photo.

[01:05:02]>> Would it It's a a word that in in the biz I actually typically actually hate, but this one actually applies. Like, do optics matter here?

[01:05:12]>> Yes. I'm in no position to talk about hair, but I will tell you that it looks really menacing. It looks really mean.

[01:05:19]Sure, he loves you call it like the grumpy 250. I mean, it's it's also deeply inappropriate, unacceptable, and I would argue unamerican. I mean, this is not what we do in America. That's what they do in North Korea. That's what they do in Russia. And I don't think it's going to do well with most Americans. But he doesn't seem to be too concerned about popularity lately. I mean, knocking down the White House, putting up the arch, I mean, the war in Iran, he is all gas, no breaks, and he doesn't care about public opinion. And this is just the latest example.

[01:05:45]>> Was predicted, it was predictable, and now it may actually be printed. The Treasury Department is making plans to put President Trump's face on a new $250 bill for the nation's 250th birthday.

[01:05:55]The Washington Post was first to report this, obtain a mockup of it. They report that employees at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing were pressured by Trump appointees to begin work on the bill. But the law does not allow for living presidents to actually be on currency. CNN's Caitlyn Collins asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent about the Washington Post report.

[01:06:14]terribly written, terribly edited because basically what what it says is that Treasur Treasury is following the law and that we've created the bill and that it's up to Congress, but that we follow the bill and it's up to I didn't really understand what the story was appointees aren't involved in that two of your political appointees.

[01:06:33]>> Yeah, of course. But we we prepare for everything if it gets passed. I I don't think that the there's anything unourred about having the president of the United States that the person who was president of the United States on the 250th anniversary bill.

[01:06:47]>> Well, the government now has Trump gold cards, Trump accounts, Trump RX. They've renamed the Kennedy Center the Trump Kennedy Center and the Donald J. Trump US Institute of Peace and put his face on the National Parks Pass, not to mention his face on a giant banner hanging from the Department of Justice.

[01:07:01]Washington Post reporter Jonathan Okonnell is on the by line. He joins me now. So, what did you learn about the genesis of this and where it's headed?

[01:07:10]>> Thanks, Anderson. Uh, you know, there's, as you mentioned, there's a number of reasons and ways that the president would like to celebrate the nation's 250th birthday. Um, this is one of them.

[01:07:20]That's the reason for the $250 note. Um, and like you mentioned also, a lot of these celebrations uh involve either his name or his likeness, his image. Um, we're doing things on his birthday. So, I think this fits very well into those other celebrations.

[01:07:36]>> I mean, the the photo on the bill, it looks I mean, it's that kind of ominous photo that I guess he likes. It it's quite stark compared to other presidents on other bills. Can you explain the federal law says what federal law says about new currency and who gets to appear on it?

[01:07:53]>> Yes, they've got two legal problems here. uh one is as you mentioned there's no US currency is not presently allowed to ha have any living person on there.

[01:08:02]You must be deceased. The second is there's another law that so shows exactly the denominations of currency that the US may print which is the $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100. I think there's a couple higher ones than that that are illegal, but $ 250 is not in there. And the the Treasury Secretary is correct that passing legislation would potentially solve some of these things.

[01:08:24]What he's omitted here is the many, many difficult steps that there are to producing new currency that cannot be counterfeited. And that is usually a many yearslong process involving not just the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, but also the Secret Service, the Federal Reserve, other agencies. You know, when you see a new bit of currency produced, like the $100 bill that came out somewhat recently, there's dozens of embedded security features in there that those government agencies have all agreed upon together so the currency is viable and so that, you know, it cannot be counterfeited or otherwise misused.

[01:08:57]>> Um, just to be clear, has anyone ever suggested that America needs new denominations of currency, particularly $250?

[01:09:07]>> Oh, man. And I mean there there have been different ideas over the years about proposing different coins or currencies. Some of them are collectibles though and not actual fiscal notes that you know bear the backing of the US Treasury. So I I mean his history is long. They've been doing this over 150 years and there have been a lot of ideas. I don't know that this has an economic value to it. You know it really is celebratory of President Trump and celebratory of the nation's birthday. I just don't think that the Treasury Secretary is being, I think, frank about the obstacles to making this happen and the difficulties of producing such a note. Um the there was talk of President Trump's signature being printed on US currency. Has that ever been done before of a president, a sitting president having their signature on the currency and and where does that stand?

[01:09:54]>> There has never Exactly. There's never been currency with a sitting president's signature on it. And right now, Anderson, which is in the story that we published today, right now, the country is printing $100 notes with President Trump's signature on them. The public has not seen them yet. They're going to be I don't know the timing of when they will be they will be released, but we know this because current and former employees of the Bureau of Graving and Printing spoke out about it. And at some point, those will be released. Again, I don't know when, but they are being printed right this moment in downtown Washington.

[01:10:27]Tonight, Treasury Secretary Scott Besson is defending this possible new $250 bill with Donald Trump's face on it. All to commemorate America's 250th birthday.

[01:10:40]>> I don't think that the there's anything unfort.

[01:10:51]It is against federal law though to put a living person on US currency. Bessant says the Treasury Department is just preparing the design and waiting for Congress to act. Republican Congressman Joe Wilson actually proposed legislation last year to bring this about. Everyone is here with me. Jamal.

[01:11:12]>> So Besson did to his credit he did acknowledge he's like it they're only going to do it. He acknowledges it's illegal. They will only do it if Congress acts. Um, but when he says there's nothing unourred about it, >> what do you think about it?

[01:11:25]>> Well, there's nothing else for them to do, right? No other issues happening in the country. They ought to just spend some legislative time doing this.

[01:11:32]Listen, the American people are in the middle of a great price hike that's been happening. Gas prices are taking over everyone's wallet and now here we are going to put the president's face on a bill. It just seems like we ought to be focused on other things right now, not that. I mean I one thing I just like what does it cost it costs money to make money like it it costs something to do this and like that is going to be a true conversation but it's also Gretchen it's it's not just one bank note like it's not just one like commemorative thing I mean the list let me begin it's the state department issuing passports for people in DC with Trump's face there's the commemorative coin of course which they're now pushing for to be as large as possible and and the National Park Pass, which will now feature Donald Trump and George Washington and the Arch and the Kennedy Center. I mean, what do you do with this?

[01:12:25]>> Well, we know this about Trump. I mean, all you have to do is go down New York City streets and see Trump on every single building until people started wanting to take down the name. So, this is his ego speaking and it just happens to be that he's president on the 250th anniversary. So, it's perfect timing for him. Did you know, however, though, that it supposedly takes 10 years to design and develop bills like this for security purposes because you, you know, with counterfeit and all that, you know, how they hold them up to the light and try and figure out if they're real or not.

[01:12:56]So, I'm not even so sure if Congress would actually say yes to this, which I don't think they will.

[01:13:00]>> That's red tape. We're breaking through it.

[01:13:02]>> But, but so, so we're going to get the 250th anniversary bill in 2036.

[01:13:08]And by the way, can we put it up again for a minute? I I would think Trump would be very upset with his hair.

[01:13:13]>> Why?

[01:13:14]>> Look at his hair.

[01:13:15]>> I think there's just good volume.

[01:13:17]>> Well, no. It's usually perfectly quafted like over here. So, if anything, I would I would think he would not choose this photo.

[01:13:22]>> Would it It's a a word that in in the biz I actually typically actually hate. But this one, it actually applies. Like, do optics matter here?

[01:13:33]>> Yes. I'm in no position to talk about hair, but I will tell you that it looks really menacing. It looks really mean.

[01:13:40]They call it like the grumpy 250. I mean, it it's it's also deeply inappropriate, unacceptable, and I would argue unamerican. I mean, this is not what we do in America. That's what they do in North Korea. That's what they do in Russia. And I don't think it's going to do well with most Americans. But he doesn't seem to be too concerned about popularity lately. I mean, knocking down the White House, putting up the arch, I mean, the war in Iran, he is all gas, no breaks, and he doesn't care about public opinion. And this is just the latest example.

[01:14:05]>> Was predicted, it was predictable, and now it may actually be printed. The Treasury Department is making plans to put President Trump's face on a new $250 bill for the nation's 250th birthday.

[01:14:15]The Washington Post was first to report this, obtain a mockup of it. They report that employees at the bureau of engraving and printing were pressured by Trump appointees to begin work on the bill. But the law does not allow for living presidents to actually be on currency. CNN's Caitlyn Collins asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant about the Washington Post report.

[01:14:35]terribly written, terribly edited because basically what what it says is that Treas Treasury is following the law and that we've created the bill and that it's up to Congress, but that we follow the bill and it's up to I didn't really understand what the story was appointees aren't involved in that two of your political appointees.

[01:14:53]>> Yeah, of course. But we we prepare for everything if it gets passed. I I don't think that the there's anything unfortunate about having the president of the United States that the person who was president of the United States on the 250th anniversary built.

[01:15:08]>> Well, the government now has Trump gold cards, Trump accounts, Trump RX. They've renamed the Kennedy Center, the Trump Kennedy Center, and the Donald J. Trump US Institute of Peace and put his face on the National Parks Pass, not to mention his face on a giant banner hanging from the Department of Justice.

[01:15:22]Washington Post reporter Jonathan Okonnell is on the by line. He joins me now. So, what did you learn about the genesis of this and where it's headed?

[01:15:30]>> Thanks, Anderson. Uh, you know, there's, as you mentioned, there's a number of reasons and ways that the president would like to celebrate the nation's 250th birthday. Um, this is one of them.

[01:15:40]That's the reason for the $250 note. Um, and like you mentioned, also, a lot of these celebrations uh involve either his name or his likeness, his image. Um, we're doing things on his birthday. So, I think this fits very well into those other celebrations.

[01:15:56]>> I mean, the the photo of on the bill, it looks I mean, it's that kind of ominous photo that I guess he likes it. It's quite stark compared to other presidents on other bills. Can you explain the federal law says, what federal law says about new currency and who gets to appear on it?

[01:16:14]>> Yes, they've got two legal problems here. Uh, one is, as you mentioned, there's no US currency is not presently allowed to h have any living person on there. you must be deceased. The second is there's another law that so shows exactly the denominations of currency that the US may print, which is the $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100. I think there's a couple higher ones than that that are illegal, but 250 is not in there. And the Treasury Secretary is correct that passing legislation would potentially solve some of these things.

[01:16:44]What he's omitted here is the many, many difficult steps that there are to producing new currency that cannot be counterfeited. And that is usually a many yearslong process involving not just the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, but also the Secret Service, the Federal Reserve, other agencies. You know, when you see a new bit of currency produced, like the $100 bill that came out somewhat recently, there's dozens of embedded security features in there that those government agencies have all agreed upon together so the currency is viable and so that, you know, it cannot be counterfeited or otherwise misused.

[01:17:18]>> Um, just to be clear, has anyone ever suggested that America needs new denominations of currency, particularly $250?

[01:17:28]>> Oh, man. And I mean there there have been different ideas over the years about proposing different coins or currencies. Some of them are collectibles though and not actual fiscal notes that you know bear the backing of the US Treasury. So I I mean history is long. They've been doing this over 150 years and there have been a lot of ideas. I don't know that this has an economic value to it. You know it really is celebratory of President Trump and celebratory of the nation's birthday. I just don't think that the Treasury Secretary is being I think frank about the obstacles to making this happen and the difficulties of producing such a note. Um the there was talk of President Trump's signature being printed on US currency. Has that ever been done before of president a sitting president having their signature on the currency and and where does that stand?

[01:18:14]>> There has never Exactly. There's never been currency with a sitting president's signature on it. Right now, Anderson, which is in the story that we published today, right now, the country is printing $100 notes with President Trump's signature on them. The public has not seen them yet. They're going to be I don't know the timing of when they will be they will be released, but we know this because current and former employees of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing spoke out about it and at some point those will be released. Again, I don't know when, but they are being printed right this moment in downtown Washington.

[01:18:47]Tonight, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant is defending this possible new $250 bill with Donald Trump's face on it. All to commemorate America's 250th birthday.

[01:19:00]>> I don't think that the there's anything unourred about having the president of the United States that the person who was president of the United States on the 250th anniversary bill.

[01:19:11]It is against federal law though to put a living person on US currency. Bessent says the Treasury Department is just preparing the design and waiting for Congress to act. Republican Congressman Joe Wilson actually proposed legislation last year to bring this about. Everyone is here with me. Jamal.

[01:19:32]>> So Besson did to his credit he did acknowledge he's like it they're only going to do it. He acknowledges it's illegal. They will only do it if Congress acts. Um, but when he says there's nothing unourred about it, what do you think about it?

[01:19:46]>> Well, there's nothing else for them to do, right?

[01:19:48]>> No other issues going happening in the country. They ought to just spend some legislative time doing this. Listen, the American people are in the middle of a great price hike that's been happening.

[01:19:58]Gas prices are taking over everyone's wallet and now here we are going to put the president's face on a bill. It just seems like we ought to be focused on other things right now, not that. I mean I one thing I just like what does it cost it costs money to make money like it costs something to do this and like that is going to be a true conversation but it's also Gretchen it's it's not just one bank note like it's not just one like commemorative thing I mean the list let me begin it's the state department issuing passports for people in DC with Trump's face there's the commemorative coin of course which they are now pushing for it to be as large as possible and and the National Park Pass, which will now feature Donald Trump and George Washington and the Arch and the Kennedy Center. I mean, what do you do with this?

[01:20:46]>> Well, we know this about Trump. I mean, all you have to do is go down New York City streets and see Trump on every single building until people started wanting to take down the name. So, this is his ego speaking and it just happens to be that he's president on the 250th anniversary. So, it's perfect timing for him. Did you know, however, though, that it supposedly takes 10 years to design and develop bills like this for security purposes because you now with counterfeit and all that. You know how they hold them up to the light and try and figure out if they're real or not.

[01:21:16]So, I'm not even so sure if Congress would actually say yes to this, which I don't think they will.

[01:21:21]>> That's red tape. We're breaking through it.

[01:21:22]>> But, but so, so we're going to get the 250th anniversary bill in 2036.

[01:21:28]And by the way, can we put it up again for a minute? I I would think Trump would be very upset with his hair.

[01:21:33]>> Why?

[01:21:34]>> Look at his hair.

[01:21:35]>> I think there's just good volume.

[01:21:37]>> Well, no. It's usually perfectly quafted like over here. So, if anything, I would I would think he would not choose this photo.

[01:21:43]>> Would it It's a word that in in the biz I actually typically actually hate. But this one, it actually applies. Like, do optics matter here?

[01:21:53]>> Yes. I'm in no position to talk about hair, but I will tell you that it looks really menacing. It looks really mean.

[01:22:00]They call it like the grumpy 250. I mean, it's it's also deeply inappropriate, unacceptable, and I would argue unamerican. I mean, this is not what we do in America. That's what they do in North Korea. That's what they do in Russia. And I don't think it's going to do well with most Americans. But he doesn't seem to be too concerned about popularity lately. I mean, knocking down the White House, putting up the arch, I mean, the war in Iran, he is all gas, no breaks, and he doesn't care about public opinion. And this is just the latest example.

[01:22:25]>> Was predicted, it was predictable, and now it may actually be printed. The Treasury Department is making plans to put President Trump's face on a new $250 bill for the nation's 250th birthday.

[01:22:36]The Washington Post was forced to report this, obtain a mockup of it. They report that employees at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing were pressured by Trump appointees to begin work on the bill. But the law does not allow for living presidents to actually be on currency. CNN's Caitlyn Collins asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant about the Washington Post report.

[01:22:55]terribly written, terribly edited because basically what what it says is that Treasur Treasury is following the law and that we've created the bill and that it's up to Congress, but that we follow the bill and it's up to I didn't really understand what the story was aren't involved in that two of your political appointees.

[01:23:14]>> Yeah, of course. But we we prepare for everything if it gets passed. I I don't think that the there's anything unfortunate about having the president of the United States that the person who was president of the United States on the 250th anniversary bill.

[01:23:28]>> Well, the government now has Trump gold cards, Trump accounts, Trump RX. They've renamed the Kennedy Center the Trump Kennedy Center and the Donald J. Trump US Institute of Peace and put his face on the National Parks Pass, not to mention his face on a giant banner hanging from the Department of Justice.

[01:23:42]Washington Post reporter Jonathan Okonnell is on the by line. He joins me now. So, what did you learn about the genesis of this and where it's headed?

[01:23:51]>> Thanks, Anderson. Uh, you know, there's, as you mentioned, there's a number of reasons and ways that the president would like to celebrate the nation's 250th birthday. Um, this is one of them.

[01:24:00]That's the reason for the $250 note. Um, and like you mentioned also, a lot of these celebrations uh involve either his name or his likeness, his image. Um, we're doing things on his birthday. So, I think this fits very well into those other celebrations.

[01:24:16]>> I mean, the the photo of on the bill, it looks I mean, it's that kind of ominous photo that I guess he likes it. It's quite stark compared to other presidents on other bills. Can you explain the federal law says what federal law says about new currency and who gets to appear on it?

[01:24:34]>> Yes, they've got two legal problems here. Uh, one is, as you mentioned, there's no US currency is not presently allowed to h have any living person on there. you must be deceased. The second is there's another law that so shows exactly the denominations of currency that the US may print, which is the $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100. I think there's a couple higher ones than that that are illegal, but 250 is not in there. And the the Treasury Secretary is correct that passing legislation would potentially solve some of these things.

[01:25:04]What he's omitted here is the many, many difficult steps that there are to producing new currency that cannot be counterfeited. And that is usually a many yearslong process involving not just the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, but also the Secret Service, the Federal Reserve, other agencies. You know, when you see a new bit of currency produced, like the $100 bill that came out somewhat recently, there's dozens of embedded security features in there that those government agencies have all agreed upon together so the currency is viable and so that, you know, it cannot be counterfeited or otherwise misused.

[01:25:38]>> Um, just to be clear, has anyone ever suggested that America needs new denominations of currency, particularly $250?

[01:25:48]>> Oh, man. And I mean there there have been different ideas over the years about proposing different coins or currencies. Some of them are collectibles though and not actual fiscal notes that you know bear the backing of the US Treasury. So I I mean history is long. They've been doing this over 150 years and there have been a lot of ideas. I don't know that this has an economic value to it. You know it really is celebratory of President Trump and celebratory of the nation's birthday. I just don't think that the Treasury Secretary is being I think frank about the obstacles to making this happen and the difficulties of producing such a note. Um the there was talk of President Trump's signature being printed on US currency. Has that ever been done before of a president a sitting president having their signature on the currency and and where does that stand?

[01:26:35]>> There has never Exactly. There's never been currency with a sitting president's signature on it. And right now, Anderson, which is in the story that we published today, right now, the country is printing $100 notes with President Trump's signature on them. The public has not seen them yet. They're going to be I don't know the timing of when they will be they will be released, but we know this because current and former employees of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing spoke out about it. And at some point, those will be released. Again, I don't know when, but they are being printed right this moment in downtown Washington.

[01:27:08]Tonight, Treasury Secretary Scott Besson is defending this possible new $250 bill with Donald Trump's face on it. All to commemorate America's 250th birthday.

[01:27:20]>> I don't think that the there's anything unfort.

[01:27:32]It is against federal law though to put a living person on US currency. Bessant says the Treasury Department is just preparing the design and waiting for Congress to act. Republican Congressman Joe Wilson actually proposed legislation last year to bring this about. Everyone is here with me. Jamal.

[01:27:52]>> So Besson did to his credit he did acknowledge he's like it they're only going to do it. He acknowledges it's illegal. They will only do it if Congress acts. Um, but when he says there's nothing unourred about it, what do you think about it?

[01:28:06]>> Well, there's nothing else for them to do, right? No other issues go happening in the country. They ought to just spend some legislative time doing this.

[01:28:13]Listen, the American people are in the middle of a great price hike that's been happening. Gas prices are taking over everyone's wallet and now here we are going to put the president's face on a bill. It just seems like we ought to be focused on other things right now, not that. I mean I one thing I just like what does it cost it costs money to make money like it costs something to do this and like that is going to be a true conversation but it's also Gretchen it's it's not just one bank note like it's not just one like commemorative thing I mean the list let me begin it's the state department issuing passports for people in DC with Trump's face there's the commemorative coin of course which they're now pushing for to be as large as possible and the National Park Pass, which will now feature Donald Trump and George Washington and the Arch and the Kennedy Center. I mean, what do you do with this?

[01:29:06]>> Well, we know this about Trump. I mean, all you have to do is go down New York City streets and see Trump on every single building until people started wanting to take down the name. So, this is his ego speaking. And it just happens to be that he's president on the 250th anniversary. So, it's perfect timing for him. Did you know, however, though, that it supposedly takes 10 years to design and develop bills like this for security purposes because you you now with counterfeit and all that, you know, how they hold them up to the light and try and figure out if they're real or not.

[01:29:37]So, I'm not even so sure if Congress would actually say yes to this, which I don't think they will.

[01:29:41]>> That's red TAPE AND BREAKING THROUGH IT.

[01:29:43]>> BUT, but that So, so we're going to get the 250th anniversary bill in 2036.

[01:29:49]And by the way, can we put it up again for a minute? I I would think Trump would be very upset with his hair.

[01:29:54]>> Why?

[01:29:55]>> Look at his hair.

[01:29:56]>> I think there's just good volume.

[01:29:57]>> Well, no. It's usually perfectly quafted like over here. So, if anything, I would I would think he would not choose this photo.

[01:30:03]>> Would it It's a a word that in in the biz I actually typically actually hate. But this one, it actually applies. Like, do optics matter here?

[01:30:13]>> Yes. I'm in no position to talk about hair, but I will tell you that it looks really menacing. It looks really mean.

[01:30:21]They call it like the grumpy 250. I mean, it's it's also deeply inappropriate, unacceptable, and I would argue unamerican. I mean, this is not what we do in America. That's what they do in North Korea. That's what they do in Russia. And I don't think it's going to do well with most Americans. But he doesn't seem to be too concerned about popularity lately. I mean, knocking down the White House, putting up the arch, I mean, the war in Iran, he is all gas, no breaks, and he doesn't care about public opinion. And this is just the latest example. It >> was predicted. It was predictable. and now it may actually be printed. The Treasury Department is making plans to put President Trump's face on a new $250 bill for the nation's 250th birthday.

[01:30:56]The Washington Post was forced to report this, obtain a mockup of it. They report that employees at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing were pressured by Trump appointees to begin work on the bill. But the law does not allow for living presidents to actually be on currency. CNN's Caitlyn Collins asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant about the Washington Post report.

[01:31:16]terribly written, terribly edited because basically what what it says is that Treasur Treasury is following the law and that we've created the bill and that it's up to Congress, but that we follow the bill and it's up to I didn't really understand what the story was aren't involved in that two of your political appointees.

[01:31:34]>> Yeah, of course. But we we prepare for everything if it gets passed. I I don't think that the there's anything unfortunate about having the president of the United States that the person who was president of the United States on the 250th anniversary bill.

[01:31:49]>> Well, the government now has Trump gold cards, Trump accounts, Trump RX. They've renamed the Kennedy Center the Trump Kennedy Center and the Donald J. Trump US Institute of Peace and put his face on the National Parks Pass, not to mention his face on a giant banner hanging from the Department of Justice.

[01:32:03]Washington Post reporter Jonathan Oonnell