Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent took the podium for Thursday’s White House press briefing while Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt remains on maternity leave, and one exchange quickly turned into a pointed rebuke of a recent Washington Post report.
Bessent, who has become known for his sharp responses to members of the media, was asked about reports claiming Trump administration officials had pushed for the creation of a commemorative $250 bill featuring President Donald Trump.
The question stemmed from a Washington Post article that cited anonymous current and former government employees who alleged that Treasury Department political appointees encouraged the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to develop prototypes for a special note ahead of the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebrations.
According to the report, U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach and senior adviser Mike Brown repeatedly urged agency staff to prepare designs featuring Trump. The article also noted that federal law currently permits only deceased individuals to appear on U.S. currency, raising questions about the feasibility of such a proposal.
.@SecScottBessent just humiliated both CNN’s Kaitlan Collins AND The Washington Post in one go:
“Who here’s from The Post? Yeah, terribly written, terribly edited”
“Because basically, what it says is that Treasury is following the law… pic.twitter.com/s6o1VY0GUn
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 28, 2026
When asked about the report during the briefing, Bessent did not appear impressed.
“Who here’s from The Post?” he asked. “Yeah, terribly written, terribly edited.”
The Treasury secretary dismissed the article’s implications, suggesting the report amounted to little more than speculation about officials discussing an idea that would ultimately be subject to existing legal restrictions.
The Washington Post article also referenced concerns from unnamed employees regarding internal discussions at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Among the claims was an allegation that a printing director was reassigned after expressing concerns related to the proposal.
However, administration officials have not indicated that any effort is underway to bypass federal law regarding U.S. currency design. Nor has any formal plan been announced to place a living president on circulating American banknotes.
Is a $250 bill featuring President Trump coming into circulation?
“At Treasury, we prepare things in advance…” pic.twitter.com/W5jhWCrfOy
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 28, 2026
The report relied heavily on anonymous sources who said they feared retaliation for speaking publicly. While the article portrayed the discussions as unusual, critics argued that the piece offered little evidence of wrongdoing and largely documented conversations that never progressed beyond preliminary discussions.
The issue comes as the United States prepares for celebrations surrounding the nation’s 250th anniversary, a milestone expected to feature numerous commemorative projects, events, and tributes over the next year.
For the administration, the matter appeared to be little more than another media-driven controversy. For Bessent, it was simply another chance to challenge a narrative he clearly believes does not hold up under scrutiny.
