Honoring Trump on coin for US’s 250th birthday is legal: Hassett
the article discusses the controversy surrounding the planned release of a commemorative $1 coin featuring President Donald Trump in party of the United States’ 250th independence anniversary in 2026. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett defended the legality of the coin,rejecting CNN host Jake Tapper’s claim that creating a coin with the image of a living person violates an 1866 law intended to prevent any appearance of monarchy. Hassett argued that past commemorative coins have depicted living individuals, so the Trump management is on solid legal ground. The coin’s design includes a side portrait of Trump and an image inspired by his stance following a 2024 assassination attempt. U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach previewed the draft coin and stated that it honors America’s semiquincentennial and reflects the enduring spirit of the country and democracy despite notable challenges. The Treasury Department supports the coin as a fitting tribute to this milestone.
Hassett rebuffs Tapper on legality of Trump commemorative $1 coin: ‘On solid ground’
The White House is on solid legal ground with plans to release a commemorative coin of President Donald Trump for the country’s 250th independence celebration, according to a senior Trump administration official.
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett pushed back on Sunday against CNN host Jake Tapper’s suggestion that the Treasury Department’s development of a $1 coin could violate a century-old law.
“It bears the image of the current president, President Trump. This, despite the fact that an 1866 law enshrined in the U.S. Code says a living person cannot be featured in the U.S currency,” said Tapper, host of State of the Union. “This obviously dates back to concerns about wanting to avoid the appearance of a monarchy. Is President Trump planning on changing that law?”
Hassett said the Trump administration was not at risk of breaking the law.
“In terms of reading through what is and isn’t available under that law, that there have been times in the past where commemorative coins have been printed with the faces of living people, and so I think that they’re on solid ground if they decide to do that,” Hassett said.
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
Treasurer Brandon Beach previewed a draft of the coin on Friday afternoon. The coin was designed as the commemorative coin for the United States’s semiquincentennial on July 4, 2026.
The front of the coin shows a side portrait of Trump, while the back shows an image similar to Trump’s stance following an assassination attempt against him in Butler, Pennsylvania, last July.
WHITE HOUSE PRESSURES DEMOCRATS OVER SHUTDOWN DELAYS TO KEY ECONOMIC DATA
“No fake news here. These first drafts honoring America’s 250th Birthday and @POTUS are real,” Beach wrote in a post to X. “Looking forward to sharing more soon, once the obstructionist shutdown of the United States government is over.”
A Treasury spokesperson said the drafted coin “reflects well the enduring spirit of our country and democracy, even in the face of immense obstacles.”
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
