President Trump’s Signature on $100 Bills to End 165-Year U.S. Treasury Tradition

Starting June 2026, President Trump's signature will appear on $100 banknotes, replacing the U.S. Treasurer's signature for the first time since the Civil War era.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 28, 2026, 6:26 AM EDT

Source: Reuters

A Historic Shift in Currency Validation

Since 1861, U.S. banknotes have consistently carried the signature of the Treasurer of the United States. The Treasury Secretary’s signature was added to the design roughly a century ago. By substituting the Treasurer with the President, the administration is making the most significant aesthetic and symbolic change to the "greenback" in generations. Because an 1866 federal law strictly prohibits the depiction of living persons—specifically current or former presidents—on paper currency, the use of a signature serves as a legal workaround to personalize the notes without violating the ban on living portraits.

Global Context: The "Sitting Leader" Currency Club

By placing his signature on the currency, Trump joins a historically small group of leaders, often from developing or transitioning economies, whose identities were tied to their nation's tender during their reign.

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