You’ve probably seen the headlines or the grainy social media posts. Maybe you even saw a "Trump $100 bill" for sale on a collector's site and wondered if the U.S. Treasury finally pulled the trigger. Honestly, the answer is a bit of a "yes and no" situation that depends entirely on whether you’re talking about legal tender or a shiny piece of political history.
The $100 bill currently in your wallet still features Benjamin Franklin. He’s been the face of the C-note since 1914. But lately, there has been a massive push in Washington to swap the Founding Father for the 45th (and 47th) President.
The "Golden Age Act" of 2025 Explained
In early 2025, Congressman Brandon Gill from Texas introduced a piece of legislation that caught everyone’s attention: the Golden Age Act.
The bill is pretty straightforward. It basically says that any $100 bill printed after December 31, 2028, must feature a portrait of Donald J. Trump on the front. Congressman Gill argued that after everything Trump has done—surviving an assassination attempt and pushing his "America First" agenda—putting him on the highest-circulated bill was a fitting way to honor that legacy.
Under this proposal, the Secretary of the Treasury would have to release a preliminary design of the "Trump $100" by the end of 2026.
It’s a bold move. It’s also a controversial one.
For one thing, there is a literal law from 1866 that says you can't put a living person on U.S. currency. Back then, a guy named Spencer Clark (who ran the National Currency Bureau) put his own face on a five-cent note. Congress was so annoyed they passed a law to make sure nobody could pull a "monarchy" move like that again.
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Why the $100 Bill?
Why not the $20 or the $50?
The $100 bill is the heavy hitter. It’s the most widely used U.S. banknote globally. By putting Trump on the $100, supporters are looking to cement his image on the most powerful symbol of American economic might.
But it’s not the only currency idea floating around the halls of Congress. Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina pushed for a $250 bill. Why $250? To celebrate the United States' 250th anniversary in 2026. His bill would specifically repeal that 1866 "no living persons" rule to allow Trump to appear on the new denomination.
Legal Tender vs. Collectibles: Don't Get Fooled
If you go online right now, you can buy a "Trump $100 bill."
You’ll see them in gold foil, or maybe a crisp "2025 edition" that looks incredibly real. Kinda confusing, right?
Here is the deal: these are not legal tender.
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- Commemorative Notes: Most of what you see on eBay or specialty sites like GovMint are "Aurum" notes or gold-plated collectibles. They often contain a tiny amount of real gold (like 100 milligrams), but you can't walk into a gas station and buy a pack of gum with them.
- Colorized $2 Bills: There is a whole market for real U.S. currency that has been "enhanced." Companies take a genuine, uncirculated $2 bill (the ones with Thomas Jefferson) and use a high-definition printing process to overlay Trump’s image. These are technically legal tender because the underlying bill is real, but most people keep them in display cases as keepsakes.
- Novelty "Play" Money: These are the ones that say "NOT LEGAL TENDER" in tiny print. They’re fun for rallies, but worthless at the bank.
The Roadblocks to a Real Change
So, is it actually going to happen?
Passing a law to change currency is a massive uphill battle. Even though Republicans have introduced the Golden Age Act, the bill has to clear the House Financial Services Committee, pass a full House vote, get through the Senate, and finally be signed.
And then there's the bureaucracy.
The U.S. Treasury and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) usually redesign bills for security reasons, not just aesthetics. They’re obsessed with stopping counterfeiters. Changing a portrait isn't just about the face; it’s about the 3D security ribbons, the color-shifting ink, and the watermarks that have to be integrated into the new design.
Remember the Harriet Tubman $20 bill? That was announced back in 2016. It’s 2026 now, and we still haven't seen it in wide circulation. Currency changes move at the speed of a glacier.
The Debate Over the "Dead Presidents" Rule
The 1866 law is the biggest hurdle. Most experts, like those at the San Francisco Fed, point out that U.S. currency has traditionally stayed away from living figures to keep the country feeling like a republic rather than a kingdom.
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Supporters of the Trump bill argue that Trump is a unique historical figure who deserves a "Golden Age" exception. Critics, mostly Democrats and some historians, argue that we shouldn't break a 160-year-old tradition.
What You Should Do Now
If you’re a collector or just curious about the future of the American C-note, here is how you should handle the "Trump on the $100 bill" situation:
1. Check the Fine Print
If you are buying a "Trump bill" online, look for the words "Legal Tender." If it doesn't say that, you are buying a souvenir. Souvenirs are cool, but they won't pay the rent.
2. Follow the House Financial Services Committee
Keep an eye on H.R. 1790 (the Golden Age Act). If this bill moves out of committee, the chances of a real, Treasury-issued Trump bill become much higher.
3. Don't Deposit Collectibles
If you own one of those gold-foil or colorized bills, don't try to put it in an ATM. The machines won't recognize the altered surface or the non-standard materials, and you might end up with a jammed machine or a flagged account.
4. Watch for the 2026 Design Release
The Golden Age Act specifically sets a deadline of December 31, 2026, for a preliminary design. Even if the bill doesn't pass, the Treasury might release "concept art" if the political pressure gets high enough.
The $100 bill is changing, but for now, Ben Franklin isn't going anywhere. Whether the "Golden Age" actually arrives on our paper money depends on a mix of legislative votes and a very old law that Congress may—or may not—be ready to scrap.