President Donald J. Trump has surprised me on many issues. But this time, he has surprised me the most. He wants his hand-drawn signature, the one like a series of sharp peaks in heavy black marker, to appear on our paper currency. Thus, Trump’s signature will inevitably appear on the world’s reserve currency.
To him, the presidency seems like history worth writing, and a way of making more money for himself and his wealthy supporters.
I first read what The New York Times had to say about it. The newspaper published a news article with the headline: “Trump’s signature to be added to US dollars, a first for a sitting President” on March 26.
In Time magazine, Connor Greene wrote a piece with the headline: “All the things Trump has put his name and face on as president” March 27. As Mr. Greene writes, he puts his name everywhere.
In USA Today, George Petras and Janet Loehrke wrote a piece with the headline: “Trump’s signature will be on US currency soon. Here’s how it may look.” This appeared on March 27, 2026. Here, as Mr. Petras and Ms. Loehrke write, Trump really puts his name everywhere, a point clearly illustrated by the graphics they published.
To cut a long story short: First, Trump meme coin. Then, banners were hung outside buildings. His name was added to the Kennedy Center. The 250th anniversary coin bears his image. The White House ballroom will be named after him. And now, his signature on our money. Are we still a republic? Can we still say, “We the People?” Soon, Americans may be using cash with his signature to pay. They will know exactly whom to blame as they pay more for everything, from gas to groceries to healthcare to rent.
What is happening in America is a warning we cannot afford to ignore. Even if the Treasury Department says this change honors America’s 250th anniversary, our country is heading in the opposite direction of what the Founding Fathers envisioned, and we all know who is responsible. And what does this signal about democratic symbolism globally? Much like Macbeth, whose rise to power was driven by bold ambition, this presidency has become a pursuit of grandeur, with his signature soon appearing in every American wallet.
Trump doesn’t hold as many good cards, and he is aiming for a place in history. Of course, I respect him as president of this great nation – the 45th and the 47th. Still, his signature on all US currency is not my cup of tea and seems like an odd way for him to secure that place in history, especially after the worst defeat since Vietnam War…
P.S. Ugh. The State Department is reportedly set to include an image of Donald Trump in a limited-edition US passport to mark America’s 250th anniversary. An airport in Palm Beach, Florida, is also expected to be renamed “Donald J. Trump International Airport.” And how could we forget the new Trump-class nuclear-powered battleship? At a time when the national debt stands at $39 trillion, this is what we are focusing on!
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Dimitris Eleas is a New York City–based political scientist, writer, and independent researcher. His e-mail is: [email protected].
