Bulwark Takes We Can't Believe This Trump Coin is Actually REAL
Oct 3, 2025
Sam Stein and Will Sommer dive into the controversy surrounding Donald Trump's planned appearance on a $1 coin for America's 250th anniversary. They explore the legal implications of featuring a living person on currency, discuss the growing obsession with presidential memorabilia, and ponder the impact on private Trump coin markets. Additionally, they touch on Trump's peculiar gift requests and the fallout from denying them, while comparing his self-promotional habits to previous presidents. The episode wraps up with some light-hearted banter about Barron Trump.
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Trump $1 Coin Is Government-Backed Vanity
- The Treasury plans to mint a 2026 $1 coin featuring Donald Trump's likeness for the 250th anniversary.
- Sam Stein and Will Sommer call this an unprecedented and highly personal use of official currency imagery.
Legal Red Flag: Thayer Amendment
- The hosts cite the Thayer Amendment, which bars likenesses of living people on U.S. bonds, notes, or postal currency.
- They highlight that minting a living president's portrait may therefore be illegal or at least unprecedented.
Sesquicentennial Becoming A Trump Showcase
- Will Sommer argues the 2026 sesquicentennial is being shaped to spotlight Trump personally.
- They see this as part of a broader pattern of turning national celebrations into a cult-of-personality showcase.