A proposal to issue a $1 coin featuring Donald Trump’s likeness for America’s 250th anniversary has sparked controversy, with Democrats pushing to prevent its creation.
July 4, 2026, marks the 250th anniversary of the United States declaring independence, and extensive celebrations are planned to commemorate this milestone event.
Details about the festivities remain largely undisclosed, but the US Treasury announced last October its intentions to honor the current President, Donald Trump, with this commemorative coin.
This proposed coin design features Trump on both sides, with a side profile of the Republican president on the ‘heads’ side. However, the ‘tails’ side has generated significant discussion across the nation.
The initial design depicted Trump raising his fist with the US flag in the background, accompanied by the phrase ‘Fight, Fight, Fight’ along the top.
This design element is a nod to the widely recognized photograph of Trump with his fist raised, chanting these words during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024, an event where he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt.
Despite the attention-grabbing nature of this image, the Treasury has opted for a more traditional design for the coin.
No fake news here. These first drafts honoring America’s 250th Birthday and @POTUS are real.
Looking forward to sharing more soon, once the obstructionist shutdown of the United States government is over. https://t.co/c6HChM6ijG
— U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach (@TreasurerBeach) October 3, 2025
The Commission of Fine Art has received three new designs for review, which will offer guidance to the federal government regarding their suitability for minting.
Each of these redesigned coins includes close-up views of Trump, along with the inscriptions ‘In God We Trust’ and ‘Liberty.’ Additionally, the coin acknowledges the upcoming special celebration of US independence.
The reverse side of the coin showcases different designs, all featuring the iconic US bald eagle.
Since the October announcement, there has been significant opposition from Democrats aiming to prevent the issuance of the new $1 coin.
Leading the charge are Democratic Senators Jeff Merkley and Catherine Cortez Masto, who have introduced a bill to block the coin. Merkley criticized the proposal as an ‘abuse of taxpayer dollars.’
“President Trump’s self-celebrating maneuvers are authoritarian actions worthy of dictators like North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, not the United States of America,” he stated.
Cortez Masto added: “While monarchs put their faces on coins, America has never had and never will have a king. Our legislation would codify this country’s long-standing tradition of not putting living Presidents on American coins.”
The ultimate decision on whether the coin will be produced for circulation rests with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.