South Carolina’s Republican lawmaker Joe Wilson proposed to introduce new $250 currency bill featuring, President Donald Trump, a move that would make Trump the first living current or former president to appear on US currency, as the Newsweek reported.
Wilson cited economic challenges, which he attributed to “Bidenflation,” as a key reason for the proposal. He claimed that inflation during former President Joe Biden’s administration forced Americans to carry more cash. Wilson promoted the proposal on social media, saying, “Most valuable bill for most valuable President!”
“Bidenflation” is a term used by critics to describe the inflation surge under Biden, which peaked at 9.1% in mid-2022—the highest rate since the early 1980s.
The Biden administration attributed the increase to global issues like supply-chain disruptions, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the war in Ukraine.
However, opponents pointed to Biden’s policies, including increased government spending and energy regulations, as contributing factors.
Wilson, known for his outspoken criticism of Democratic leaders—including his “You lie!” outburst during Barack Obama’s 2017 State of the Union address—shared a mock-up of the proposed bill featuring a stern-looking Trump.
The legislation has not yet been formally introduced in Congress, and no timeline for its consideration has been set. If approved, the $250 bill would become the highest-denomination US banknote in circulation.
Wilson, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, has recently voiced strong opinions on international issues, including labelling Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “war criminal”, advocating for free elections in Georgia, and supporting sanctions against Iran.
