By — Associated Press Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-bessent-holds-white-house-briefing-as-jobless-claims-and-inflation-rise-amid-u-s-iran-war Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: $250 bill with Trump's picture is up to Congress, Bessent says at White House briefing Politics Updated on May 28, 2026 3:40 PM EDT — Published on May 28, 2026 10:50 AM EDT Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday the $250 bill with President Donald Trump's picture is up to Congress, where legislation to allow a new currency note has stalled. Watch Bessent's White House briefing in our video player above. Bessent affirmed that the Treasury Department does "prepare things in advance." That's a tacit confirmation of a Washington Post story that reported said the agency has produced a mockup of a new $250 bill. The design has Trump's picture and a 250th anniversary logo celebrating the nation's founding. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. The secretary noted that, at least for now, U.S. law does not allow a living person to appear on currency. A bill by Rep. Joe Wilson, R.-S.C., would provide an exemption that would allow Trump's image to appear. "It's all up to Capitol Hill," Bessent said. "We will stick to the law." Bessent doesn't confirm tentative Iran agreement Bessent said any Iran deal must involve opening the Strait of Hormuz, but said he won't "get out ahead of" Trump. He also downplayed Trump's threat against Oman, saying, "I think the president wanted to punctuate freedom of navigation in the strait." Bessent said teams are going "back and forth" over a potential Iran deal and insisted oil prices will fall "very quickly" when the war is over. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Associated Press Associated Press
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday the $250 bill with President Donald Trump's picture is up to Congress, where legislation to allow a new currency note has stalled. Watch Bessent's White House briefing in our video player above. Bessent affirmed that the Treasury Department does "prepare things in advance." That's a tacit confirmation of a Washington Post story that reported said the agency has produced a mockup of a new $250 bill. The design has Trump's picture and a 250th anniversary logo celebrating the nation's founding. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. The secretary noted that, at least for now, U.S. law does not allow a living person to appear on currency. A bill by Rep. Joe Wilson, R.-S.C., would provide an exemption that would allow Trump's image to appear. "It's all up to Capitol Hill," Bessent said. "We will stick to the law." Bessent doesn't confirm tentative Iran agreement Bessent said any Iran deal must involve opening the Strait of Hormuz, but said he won't "get out ahead of" Trump. He also downplayed Trump's threat against Oman, saying, "I think the president wanted to punctuate freedom of navigation in the strait." Bessent said teams are going "back and forth" over a potential Iran deal and insisted oil prices will fall "very quickly" when the war is over. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now