{"id":9376,"date":"2026-07-18T07:53:27","date_gmt":"2026-07-18T02:53:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=9376"},"modified":"2026-07-18T07:53:27","modified_gmt":"2026-07-18T02:53:27","slug":"trump-1-coin-breaks-norms-raises-legal-questions-npr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=9376","title":{"rendered":"Trump $1 coin breaks norms, raises legal questions : NPR"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"storytext\">\n<div id=\"resg-s1-134261\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"&#10;        --source-width: 1920;&#10;        --source-height: 1080;&#10;    \">\n        <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1080+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F58%2F2a%2Feccb44e447bf85d5bb81daa313e4%2Fap26196759261389.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1080+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F58%2F2a%2Feccb44e447bf85d5bb81daa313e4%2Fap26196759261389.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1080+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F58%2F2a%2Feccb44e447bf85d5bb81daa313e4%2Fap26196759261389.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1080+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F58%2F2a%2Feccb44e447bf85d5bb81daa313e4%2Fap26196759261389.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1080+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F58%2F2a%2Feccb44e447bf85d5bb81daa313e4%2Fap26196759261389.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1080+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F58%2F2a%2Feccb44e447bf85d5bb81daa313e4%2Fap26196759261389.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1080+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F58%2F2a%2Feccb44e447bf85d5bb81daa313e4%2Fap26196759261389.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1080+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F58%2F2a%2Feccb44e447bf85d5bb81daa313e4%2Fap26196759261389.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1080+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F58%2F2a%2Feccb44e447bf85d5bb81daa313e4%2Fap26196759261389.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1080+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F58%2F2a%2Feccb44e447bf85d5bb81daa313e4%2Fap26196759261389.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1080+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F58%2F2a%2Feccb44e447bf85d5bb81daa313e4%2Fap26196759261389.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1080+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F58%2F2a%2Feccb44e447bf85d5bb81daa313e4%2Fap26196759261389.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1080+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F58%2F2a%2Feccb44e447bf85d5bb81daa313e4%2Fap26196759261389.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1080+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F58%2F2a%2Feccb44e447bf85d5bb81daa313e4%2Fap26196759261389.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1080+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F58%2F2a%2Feccb44e447bf85d5bb81daa313e4%2Fap26196759261389.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1080+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F58%2F2a%2Feccb44e447bf85d5bb81daa313e4%2Fap26196759261389.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1080+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F58%2F2a%2Feccb44e447bf85d5bb81daa313e4%2Fap26196759261389.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1080+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F58%2F2a%2Feccb44e447bf85d5bb81daa313e4%2Fap26196759261389.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"The U.S. Mint is producing a new $1 coin featuring President Donald Trump's image. \" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                The U.S. Mint is producing a new $1 coin featuring President Trump&#8217;s image. He&#8217;s only the second living president to get this honor, after Calvin Coolidge in 1926.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>                    AP\/Treasury Department<\/p>\n<p>                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><br \/>\n              <svg class=\"icon icon--info\"><use href=\"#icon-info\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>        AP\/Treasury Department<\/p>\n<p>    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>In his second term, President Trump&#8217;s image has cropped up in many new places: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/08\/g-s1-132497\/passports-trump-image\" target=\"_blank\">U.S. passports,<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/01\/09\/nx-s1-5672341\/national-park-updates-guidelines-stop-visitors-defacing-trump-picture-pass\" target=\"_blank\">national park passes<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfgate.com\/politics\/article\/donald-trump-banners-22344776.php\" target=\"_blank\">government building banners <\/a>and \u2014 soon \u2014 official coins.<\/p>\n<p>Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SecScottBessent\/status\/2077339920461439115?s=20\" target=\"_blank\">unveiled designs<\/a> this week for a commemorative $1 gold-colored coin, which he said the U.S. Mint will start producing in honor of the country&#8217;s 250th birthday.<\/p>\n<p>One side features the bald eagle from the distinctive U.S. seal. The other shows a close-up of Trump \u2014 wearing a suit, tie and serious expression \u2014 encircled by the word &#8220;Liberty&#8221; and &#8220;1776-2026.&#8221;<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-backstage-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap backstage\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5897380-100\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImageg-s1-132497\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/08\/g-s1-132497\/passports-trump-image\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/08\\\/g-s1-132497\\\/passports-trump-image&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3723x3723+634+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F76%2Fc8%2F38ea37d04de19c9a8a9457236407%2Fimg-1681-copy.jpeg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3723x3723+634+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F76%2Fc8%2F38ea37d04de19c9a8a9457236407%2Fimg-1681-copy.jpeg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3723x3723+634+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F76%2Fc8%2F38ea37d04de19c9a8a9457236407%2Fimg-1681-copy.jpeg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3723x3723+634+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F76%2Fc8%2F38ea37d04de19c9a8a9457236407%2Fimg-1681-copy.jpeg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3723x3723+634+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F76%2Fc8%2F38ea37d04de19c9a8a9457236407%2Fimg-1681-copy.jpeg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3723x3723+634+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F76%2Fc8%2F38ea37d04de19c9a8a9457236407%2Fimg-1681-copy.jpeg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3723x3723+634+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F76%2Fc8%2F38ea37d04de19c9a8a9457236407%2Fimg-1681-copy.jpeg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3723x3723+634+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F76%2Fc8%2F38ea37d04de19c9a8a9457236407%2Fimg-1681-copy.jpeg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"A new U.S. passport features an image of President Trump.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5897380-100\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s very cute, they gave me a coin,&#8221; Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/atrupar\/status\/2077473127961882633?s=20\" target=\"_blank\">told Fox News<\/a> on Wednesday. &#8220;That&#8217;s very unusual, from what I understand.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>A coin with the sitting president&#8217;s face has only been minted once, exactly a century ago. And, experts say, it&#8217;s likely illegal.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The law prohibits, currently, on currency, the likeness of any person \u2014 not just the president \u2014 who is alive,&#8221; said Jeremy Paul, a professor and former dean at Northeastern University School of Law who specializes in constitutional law.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5897380-101\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5838002\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/05\/28\/nx-s1-5838002\/treasury-department-prepares-250-bill-with-trumps-face-on-it\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/28\\\/nx-s1-5838002\\\/treasury-department-prepares-250-bill-with-trumps-face-on-it&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3545x3545+889+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa2%2F79%2Fb162104c49fa963d01bd7596ebdc%2Fgettyimages-2277963007.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3545x3545+889+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa2%2F79%2Fb162104c49fa963d01bd7596ebdc%2Fgettyimages-2277963007.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3545x3545+889+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa2%2F79%2Fb162104c49fa963d01bd7596ebdc%2Fgettyimages-2277963007.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3545x3545+889+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa2%2F79%2Fb162104c49fa963d01bd7596ebdc%2Fgettyimages-2277963007.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3545x3545+889+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa2%2F79%2Fb162104c49fa963d01bd7596ebdc%2Fgettyimages-2277963007.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3545x3545+889+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa2%2F79%2Fb162104c49fa963d01bd7596ebdc%2Fgettyimages-2277963007.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3545x3545+889+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa2%2F79%2Fb162104c49fa963d01bd7596ebdc%2Fgettyimages-2277963007.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3545x3545+889+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa2%2F79%2Fb162104c49fa963d01bd7596ebdc%2Fgettyimages-2277963007.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"US Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent shows a proposed $250 bill featuring President Donald Trump during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5897380-101\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>The Treasury Department argues coins do not apply, citing a law that Congress passed in 2020 authorizing the creation of a special-edition 250th coin.<\/p>\n<p>Paul says the coin question could potentially reach the courts. Either way, he believes, the break with tradition should be cause for concern.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Regardless of careful parsing of the language of these individual statutes, this plan the president and Secretary Bessent have cooked up is inconsistent with the principles of our country, and it politicizes something that&#8217;s not supposed to be political,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-134263\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"&#10;        --source-width: 6000;&#10;        --source-height: 4000;&#10;    \">\n        <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F14%2Fc0%2Ff0355397440e8eeafed0dfff1844%2Fgettyimages-2282411707.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F14%2Fc0%2Ff0355397440e8eeafed0dfff1844%2Fgettyimages-2282411707.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F14%2Fc0%2Ff0355397440e8eeafed0dfff1844%2Fgettyimages-2282411707.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F14%2Fc0%2Ff0355397440e8eeafed0dfff1844%2Fgettyimages-2282411707.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F14%2Fc0%2Ff0355397440e8eeafed0dfff1844%2Fgettyimages-2282411707.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F14%2Fc0%2Ff0355397440e8eeafed0dfff1844%2Fgettyimages-2282411707.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F14%2Fc0%2Ff0355397440e8eeafed0dfff1844%2Fgettyimages-2282411707.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F14%2Fc0%2Ff0355397440e8eeafed0dfff1844%2Fgettyimages-2282411707.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F14%2Fc0%2Ff0355397440e8eeafed0dfff1844%2Fgettyimages-2282411707.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F14%2Fc0%2Ff0355397440e8eeafed0dfff1844%2Fgettyimages-2282411707.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F14%2Fc0%2Ff0355397440e8eeafed0dfff1844%2Fgettyimages-2282411707.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F14%2Fc0%2Ff0355397440e8eeafed0dfff1844%2Fgettyimages-2282411707.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F14%2Fc0%2Ff0355397440e8eeafed0dfff1844%2Fgettyimages-2282411707.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F14%2Fc0%2Ff0355397440e8eeafed0dfff1844%2Fgettyimages-2282411707.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F14%2Fc0%2Ff0355397440e8eeafed0dfff1844%2Fgettyimages-2282411707.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F14%2Fc0%2Ff0355397440e8eeafed0dfff1844%2Fgettyimages-2282411707.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F14%2Fc0%2Ff0355397440e8eeafed0dfff1844%2Fgettyimages-2282411707.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F14%2Fc0%2Ff0355397440e8eeafed0dfff1844%2Fgettyimages-2282411707.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"President Trump's image has been added to passports, national park passes and federal buildings \u2014 like the Department of Justice headquarters \u2014 in his second term.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                President Trump&#8217;s image has been added to passports, national park passes and federal buildings \u2014 like the Department of Justice headquarters \u2014 in his second term.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>                    Ken Cedeno\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><br \/>\n              <svg class=\"icon icon--info\"><use href=\"#icon-info\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>        Ken Cedeno\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>A Trump $1 coin has been in the works since at least late last year, despite backlash from Democratic lawmakers who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.merkley.senate.gov\/merkley-cortez-masto-lead-new-bill-to-block-donald-trump-from-putting-his-face-on-dollar-coin\/\" target=\"_blank\">introduced a bill<\/a> to block it. The federal Commission of Fine Arts \u2014 which is stacked with presidential appointees \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfa.gov\/records-research\/record-cfa-actions\/2026\/03\/cfa-meeting\/minutes\" target=\"_blank\">approved the design<\/a> in March, though it&#8217;s a different version than the one Treasury officials shared this week.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-secondary-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap secondary\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<aside id=\"mid-story-recommendations-mount-piano\" class=\"mid-story-recommendations-mount-piano\" aria-label=\"recommended stories\"\/>\n<!-- END ID=\"MID-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" CLASS=\"MID-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" ARIA-LABEL=\"RECOMMENDED STORIES\" --><\/p>\n<p>This coin, which the Treasury says has a &#8220;gold-like finish,&#8221; will be minted in Philadelphia and available for purchase in the fall.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s one of several ways this administration is seeking to put Trump&#8217;s mark on American money. In March, the Treasury announced that all <a href=\"https:\/\/home.treasury.gov\/news\/press-releases\/sb0425\" target=\"_blank\">future paper currency<\/a> will bear Trump&#8217;s signature, another first for a sitting president. It also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/05\/28\/nx-s1-5838002\/treasury-department-prepares-250-bill-with-trumps-face-on-it\" target=\"_blank\">prepared a $250 bill<\/a> featuring Trump&#8217;s face, though Congressional approval \u2014 which is required for the new denomination \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/newsletters\/morning-money\/2026\/06\/09\/the-trump-250-bill-struggles-on-the-hill-00954146\" target=\"_blank\">does not seem imminent.<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5897380-102\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5866762\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/06\/23\/nx-s1-5866762\/why-the-250-bill-would-be-good-for-criminals\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/23\\\/nx-s1-5866762\\\/why-the-250-bill-would-be-good-for-criminals&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x3000+0+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/png\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F74%2F8c%2F90eebf4848eeb6633b9b4652ea32%2Fb5cc149c-11e5-40d9-a33d-940ff1eebb21.png\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x3000+0+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/png\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F74%2F8c%2F90eebf4848eeb6633b9b4652ea32%2Fb5cc149c-11e5-40d9-a33d-940ff1eebb21.png\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x3000+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F74%2F8c%2F90eebf4848eeb6633b9b4652ea32%2Fb5cc149c-11e5-40d9-a33d-940ff1eebb21.png\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x3000+0+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/png\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F74%2F8c%2F90eebf4848eeb6633b9b4652ea32%2Fb5cc149c-11e5-40d9-a33d-940ff1eebb21.png\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x3000+0+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/png\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F74%2F8c%2F90eebf4848eeb6633b9b4652ea32%2Fb5cc149c-11e5-40d9-a33d-940ff1eebb21.png\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x3000+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F74%2F8c%2F90eebf4848eeb6633b9b4652ea32%2Fb5cc149c-11e5-40d9-a33d-940ff1eebb21.png\" data-format=\"png\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/png\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x3000+0+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/png\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F74%2F8c%2F90eebf4848eeb6633b9b4652ea32%2Fb5cc149c-11e5-40d9-a33d-940ff1eebb21.png\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x3000+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F74%2F8c%2F90eebf4848eeb6633b9b4652ea32%2Fb5cc149c-11e5-40d9-a33d-940ff1eebb21.png\" data-format=\"png\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"Why the $250 bill would be good \u2026 For criminals!\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5897380-102\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>And yet, Bessent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/legal\/government\/trump-administration-puts-plan-harriet-tubman-20-bill-ice-2026-07-07\/\" target=\"_blank\">confirmed last week<\/a> that his department is no longer planning to move ahead with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/03\/10\/nx-s1-5321464\/harriet-tubman-20-dollar-bill-2025\" target=\"_blank\">preexisting efforts<\/a> to put Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill. That juxtaposition was not lost on Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, one of several lawmakers who criticized the new coin from <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RepThomasMassie\/status\/2077359972539683003?s=20\" target=\"_blank\">both sides of the aisle<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;They can put Trump on a $1 coin, but can&#8217;t keep a decades-old promise to put Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill???&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RepBeatty\/status\/2077479256955748654?s=20\" target=\"_blank\">Beatty tweeted<\/a>. &#8220;This Treasury is funding presidential vanity projects.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Richard Painter, former chief White House ethics lawyer for President George W. Bush, said the practice of putting the head of state on coins has long been &#8220;associated with monarchies and other forms of authoritarian regimes.&#8221; George Washington <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BoCMuseum\/posts\/georgewashington-felt-that-his-image-on-government-currency-would-make-him-look-\/1029233489235583\/\" target=\"_blank\">actively refused it<\/a> for this reason, and at least two federal laws forbid it.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;One of the reasons for Congress wanting to prohibit this is that we don&#8217;t want presidents acting like kings,&#8221; Painter said. &#8220;And this is not the only way in which Donald Trump has acted like a king.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">Unpacking the legal questions\u00a0<\/h3>\n<p>In the mid-19th century, a Treasury official named Spencer Clark slipped his own portrait on a banknote that Congress had intended to honor the late explorer William Clark (partner to Meriwether Lewis).<\/p>\n<p>That prompted outrage, and the Thayer Amendment of 1866. It appears in <a href=\"https:\/\/uscode.house.gov\/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title31-section5114&amp;num=0&amp;edition=prelim\" target=\"_blank\">the U.S. code<\/a> as: &#8220;Only the portrait of a deceased individual may appear on United States currency and securities.&#8221;<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-third-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap third\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>&#8220;We don&#8217;t want neutral symbols like our money to be partisan, to reflect preference for one living person or another person,&#8221; Paul explained.<\/p>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5897380-103\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>Bessent acknowledged that requirement while showing the coin <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=h5eFJFsEbX8\" target=\"_blank\">to Fox News<\/a> on Tuesday, but argued there is a loophole.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;During the 150th there was a Calvin Coolidge coin,&#8221; he said. &#8220;So we can put living peoples&#8217; images on a coin.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Coolidge was the only president to be featured on a coin in his lifetime, for the sesquicentennial in 1926. That year&#8217;s celebrations were <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/03\/nx-s1-5877332\/americas-flop-of-a-sesquicentennial\" target=\"_blank\">ultimately labeled a &#8220;flop<\/a>.&#8221; And demand for the special-edition coin fell vastly short of expectations: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.money.org\/1926-sesquicentennial-of-american-independence-half-dollar\/\" target=\"_blank\">over 859,000 pieces<\/a> out of the 1 million produced were ultimately returned to the Mint and melted.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Whatever precedent there might be, the law has changed further in the direction of trying to de-politicize the currency since then,&#8221; Paul said.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-134262\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"&#10;        --source-width: 8640;&#10;        --source-height: 5760;&#10;    \">\n        <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8640x5760+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fde%2Fc2%2Fec732a754c138b4390207189941f%2Fap26190591164553.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8640x5760+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fde%2Fc2%2Fec732a754c138b4390207189941f%2Fap26190591164553.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8640x5760+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fde%2Fc2%2Fec732a754c138b4390207189941f%2Fap26190591164553.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8640x5760+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fde%2Fc2%2Fec732a754c138b4390207189941f%2Fap26190591164553.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8640x5760+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fde%2Fc2%2Fec732a754c138b4390207189941f%2Fap26190591164553.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8640x5760+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fde%2Fc2%2Fec732a754c138b4390207189941f%2Fap26190591164553.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8640x5760+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fde%2Fc2%2Fec732a754c138b4390207189941f%2Fap26190591164553.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8640x5760+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fde%2Fc2%2Fec732a754c138b4390207189941f%2Fap26190591164553.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8640x5760+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fde%2Fc2%2Fec732a754c138b4390207189941f%2Fap26190591164553.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8640x5760+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fde%2Fc2%2Fec732a754c138b4390207189941f%2Fap26190591164553.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8640x5760+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fde%2Fc2%2Fec732a754c138b4390207189941f%2Fap26190591164553.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8640x5760+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fde%2Fc2%2Fec732a754c138b4390207189941f%2Fap26190591164553.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8640x5760+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fde%2Fc2%2Fec732a754c138b4390207189941f%2Fap26190591164553.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8640x5760+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fde%2Fc2%2Fec732a754c138b4390207189941f%2Fap26190591164553.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8640x5760+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fde%2Fc2%2Fec732a754c138b4390207189941f%2Fap26190591164553.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8640x5760+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fde%2Fc2%2Fec732a754c138b4390207189941f%2Fap26190591164553.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8640x5760+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fde%2Fc2%2Fec732a754c138b4390207189941f%2Fap26190591164553.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8640x5760+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fde%2Fc2%2Fec732a754c138b4390207189941f%2Fap26190591164553.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled the design of the coin this week, defending its legality.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled the design of the coin this week, defending its legality.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>                    George Walker IV\/AP<\/p>\n<p>                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><br \/>\n              <svg class=\"icon icon--info\"><use href=\"#icon-info\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>        George Walker IV\/AP<\/p>\n<p>    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The 2005 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/109th-congress\/senate-bill\/1047\/text\" target=\"_blank\">Presidential $1 Coin Act<\/a> \u2014 which authorized a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmint.gov\/learn\/coins-and-medals\/collectible-coins\/presidential-dollar-coins?srsltid=AfmBOoozMPV2o9xgOPmv7ejfNRRZozRWHX1HsubfPuCmvUJHw2HFeG6I\" target=\"_blank\">series of coins<\/a> commemorating past presidents \u2014 says a president can only be eligible if they have been deceased for at least two years.<\/p>\n<p>The presidential coin program ended in 2016, but released its final coin in 2020 in honor of George H. W. Bush two years after his death.<\/p>\n<p>Also in 2020, during the first Trump administration, Congress <a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/116th-congress\/house-bill\/1923\" target=\"_blank\">passed a law<\/a> authorizing the treasury secretary to issue $1 coins &#8220;with designs emblematic of the United States Semiquincentennial during the one-year period beginning January 1, 2026.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The Treasury and Mint say the Trump coin is legal under that statute.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5897380-104\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5887484\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/09\/nx-s1-5887484\/trump-family-is-making-billions-on-crypto-their-investors-are-losing-money\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/09\\\/nx-s1-5887484\\\/trump-family-is-making-billions-on-crypto-their-investors-are-losing-money&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+0+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff9%2F23%2F1777e6934615babc160b3dcec562%2Fap25260779654861-1.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+0+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff9%2F23%2F1777e6934615babc160b3dcec562%2Fap25260779654861-1.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff9%2F23%2F1777e6934615babc160b3dcec562%2Fap25260779654861-1.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+0+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff9%2F23%2F1777e6934615babc160b3dcec562%2Fap25260779654861-1.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+0+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff9%2F23%2F1777e6934615babc160b3dcec562%2Fap25260779654861-1.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff9%2F23%2F1777e6934615babc160b3dcec562%2Fap25260779654861-1.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+0+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff9%2F23%2F1777e6934615babc160b3dcec562%2Fap25260779654861-1.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff9%2F23%2F1777e6934615babc160b3dcec562%2Fap25260779654861-1.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"Trump family is making billions on crypto. Their investors are losing money\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5897380-104\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>Court challenges are possible, but both lawyers NPR spoke with said they might be difficult for procedural reasons.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;In order to take your case to court, you have to prove that you were injured,&#8221; Paul explained. &#8220;And the question is, who&#8217;s injured by the fact that the president is violating this law?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Painter offers one hypothetical scenario: A vendor or customer in a transaction could refuse to accept the coin as legal tender, once it&#8217;s on the market.<\/p>\n<p>One person has tried already. In March, James Rickher, a retired lawyer in Portland, Ore., sued to block the proposed coin, arguing it would directly harm him as a novice coin collector.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-overflow-1-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap overflow-1\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>A federal judge said last month that Rickher had &#8220;failed to develop the record to show that he is more than a &#8216;concerned bystander,'&#8221; and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.documentcloud.org\/documents\/28318081-immergut-rickher-ruling\/\" target=\"_blank\">denied the motion<\/a> without addressing the underlying legal question.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">How America&#8217;s 250th honors Trump\u00a0<\/h3>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-134267\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"&#10;        --source-width: 2636;&#10;        --source-height: 1757;&#10;    \">\n        <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2636x1757+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2Fa3%2Fa1e5cc5e41dab1936122c70ee421%2Fgettyimages-2283591337.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2636x1757+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2Fa3%2Fa1e5cc5e41dab1936122c70ee421%2Fgettyimages-2283591337.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2636x1757+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2Fa3%2Fa1e5cc5e41dab1936122c70ee421%2Fgettyimages-2283591337.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2636x1757+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2Fa3%2Fa1e5cc5e41dab1936122c70ee421%2Fgettyimages-2283591337.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2636x1757+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2Fa3%2Fa1e5cc5e41dab1936122c70ee421%2Fgettyimages-2283591337.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2636x1757+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2Fa3%2Fa1e5cc5e41dab1936122c70ee421%2Fgettyimages-2283591337.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2636x1757+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2Fa3%2Fa1e5cc5e41dab1936122c70ee421%2Fgettyimages-2283591337.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2636x1757+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2Fa3%2Fa1e5cc5e41dab1936122c70ee421%2Fgettyimages-2283591337.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2636x1757+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2Fa3%2Fa1e5cc5e41dab1936122c70ee421%2Fgettyimages-2283591337.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2636x1757+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2Fa3%2Fa1e5cc5e41dab1936122c70ee421%2Fgettyimages-2283591337.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2636x1757+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2Fa3%2Fa1e5cc5e41dab1936122c70ee421%2Fgettyimages-2283591337.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2636x1757+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2Fa3%2Fa1e5cc5e41dab1936122c70ee421%2Fgettyimages-2283591337.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2636x1757+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2Fa3%2Fa1e5cc5e41dab1936122c70ee421%2Fgettyimages-2283591337.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2636x1757+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2Fa3%2Fa1e5cc5e41dab1936122c70ee421%2Fgettyimages-2283591337.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2636x1757+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2Fa3%2Fa1e5cc5e41dab1936122c70ee421%2Fgettyimages-2283591337.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2636x1757+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2Fa3%2Fa1e5cc5e41dab1936122c70ee421%2Fgettyimages-2283591337.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2636x1757+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2Fa3%2Fa1e5cc5e41dab1936122c70ee421%2Fgettyimages-2283591337.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2636x1757+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2Fa3%2Fa1e5cc5e41dab1936122c70ee421%2Fgettyimages-2283591337.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"Trump's likeness is also on special-edition passports commemorating America's 250th anniversary.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                Trump&#8217;s likeness is also on special-edition passports commemorating America&#8217;s 250th anniversary.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>                    Saul Loeb\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><br \/>\n              <svg class=\"icon icon--info\"><use href=\"#icon-info\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>        Saul Loeb\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Commemorative coins, like this Trump design, are considered legal tender, but the purchase price typically exceeds their face value. The Treasury and the White House did not respond to NPR&#8217;s questions about how much the coin will cost and where the proceeds will go.<\/p>\n<p>The U.S. Mint&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmint.gov\/learn\/coins-and-medals\/commemorative-coins\" target=\"_blank\">website says<\/a> part of the price of commemorative coins is a &#8220;surcharge that goes to organizations and projects that benefit the community,&#8221; like building new museums, preserving historical sites and supporting Olympic programs.<\/p>\n<p>Painter suspects the administration&#8217;s primary motivation for the coin is not financial: &#8220;I think this is entirely about Donald Trump&#8217;s ego.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5897380-105\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5879162\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/02\/nx-s1-5879162\/freedom-250-report-house-democrats-controversy\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/02\\\/nx-s1-5879162\\\/freedom-250-report-house-democrats-controversy&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3727x3727+1166+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3f%2F99%2F2ae599ff432487ec26d408cf8548%2Fgettyimages-2283193817.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3727x3727+1166+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3f%2F99%2F2ae599ff432487ec26d408cf8548%2Fgettyimages-2283193817.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3727x3727+1166+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3f%2F99%2F2ae599ff432487ec26d408cf8548%2Fgettyimages-2283193817.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3727x3727+1166+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3f%2F99%2F2ae599ff432487ec26d408cf8548%2Fgettyimages-2283193817.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3727x3727+1166+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3f%2F99%2F2ae599ff432487ec26d408cf8548%2Fgettyimages-2283193817.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3727x3727+1166+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3f%2F99%2F2ae599ff432487ec26d408cf8548%2Fgettyimages-2283193817.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3727x3727+1166+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3f%2F99%2F2ae599ff432487ec26d408cf8548%2Fgettyimages-2283193817.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3727x3727+1166+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3f%2F99%2F2ae599ff432487ec26d408cf8548%2Fgettyimages-2283193817.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"President Trump speaks at a rally kicking off the Great American State Fair last week.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5897380-105\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>At the same time, he said, there&#8217;s &#8220;a lot to be concerned about \u2026 when it comes to President Trump and money&#8221; more broadly.<\/p>\n<p>He pointed to recent financial disclosures showing that Trump and his family made more than a billion dollars <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/02\/nx-s1-5877487\/trump-crypto-earnings-ethics\" target=\"_blank\">from cryptocurrency and other business ventures<\/a> in the past year, even as investors in his own severely devalued $TRUMP memecoin <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/02\/nx-s1-5878411\/trump-earned-more-than-1-billion-from-crypto-but-his-investors-didnt-fare-so-well\" target=\"_blank\">have lost money<\/a>. Trump has also drawn scrutiny for the <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/Politics\/trump-discloses-21000-securities-trades-year-office\/story?id=134427666\" target=\"_blank\">large volume<\/a> of securities trades made by his investment advisers, as well as licensing agreements, real estate holdings and other potential <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/05\/07\/1249592912\/president-trumps-conflicts-of-interest\" target=\"_blank\">financial conflicts of interest<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The Trump administration has used America&#8217;s 250th birthday as the impetus for many controversial projects, from resurfacing the Lincoln Memorial <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/06\/21\/nx-s1-5865636\/trump-reflecting-pool-dc-vandals-drain-green\" target=\"_blank\">Reflecting Pool<\/a> to proposing a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/09\/nx-s1-5884728\/trump-arch-height-act-commission-meeting\" target=\"_blank\">250-foot arch<\/a> near the National Mall in D.C. to launching <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/08\/g-s1-132497\/passports-trump-image\" target=\"_blank\">passports with Trump&#8217;s likeness<\/a>. House Democrats have also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/02\/nx-s1-5879162\/freedom-250-report-house-democrats-controversy\" target=\"_blank\">accused Trump of &#8220;hijacking&#8221;<\/a> the national 250th celebrations for his political and financial gain<strong>, <\/strong>which organizers deny.<\/p>\n<p>The administration frames these actions as appropriate celebrations for a milestone anniversary. But Paul sees the $1 coin as part of a troubling pattern.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-overflow-2-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap overflow-2\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>&#8220;Building triumphant arches and putting your name on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/08\/nx-s1-5886099\/appeals-court-denies-president-trumps-request-to-halt-removing-his-name-from-the-kennedy-center\" target=\"_blank\">Kennedy Center<\/a> and getting your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/09\/nx-s1-5825868\/trump-airport-florida-pbi-trademark\" target=\"_blank\">name on airports<\/a> and talking about how you&#8217;re going to get your face on Mount Rushmore,&#8221; Paul said, &#8220;All of those things are signals: &#8216;I&#8217;m bigger than the country and I&#8217;m more important than the country and the country should honor me.&#8217; Whereas what you want is the president to honor the country.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The U.S. Mint is producing a new $1 coin featuring President Trump&#8217;s image. He&#8217;s only the second living president to get this honor, after Calvin Coolidge in 1926. AP\/Treasury Department hide caption toggle caption AP\/Treasury Department In his second term, President Trump&#8217;s image has cropped up in many new places: U.S. passports, national park passes,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9377,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1080+0+0\/resize\/1400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F58%2F2a%2Feccb44e447bf85d5bb81daa313e4%2Fap26196759261389.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9376","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-political-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9376","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9376"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9376\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9377"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9376"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9376"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9376"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}