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00:00The Trump administration wants to put the president's face on American currency.
00:04There's just one problem.
00:06It's been illegal to put a living person on U.S. money since 1866.
00:10So could Trump become the first living person on a U.S. bill since the law was written to stop
00:14exactly this?
00:15Here's what's happening.
00:16America turns 250 this July 4th.
00:19Last year, a Republican congressman introduced a bill to create a new $250 note with Trump's face on it.
00:25It would also change the 1866 law, and as of right now, it's stalled in Congress.
00:30But according to the Washington Post, Trump's team didn't wait.
00:34Two treasury officials, including senior advisor Mike Brown, have been pressuring the staff at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
00:40to make prototypes anyway.
00:42The design?
00:43Trump's face in the center, his signature, and 250 America across the front.
00:47Trump reportedly reviewed it personally and asked for red, white, and blue colors and the America 250 logo.
00:51When the agency's printing director pushed back, saying they weren't authorized and that a bill could take six to eight
00:57years to produce, she was reassigned.
00:59Her replacement?
01:00Mike Brown.
01:01The agency says no bill has been printed and none will be until Congress acts.
01:06They're only preparing in case the law changes, but for now, the 1866 law still stands.
01:12Democratic lawmakers and government ethics watchdogs say Trump isn't just trying to put his face on the money, he's trying
01:17to put his face on everything.
01:19Passports, the Kennedy Center, a triumphal arch in D.C., a White House ballroom, battleships, a gold coin.
01:26They say the 250 bill is just the latest attempt to write himself permanently into American history.
01:32But supporters in Congress say the 250 bill for the 250th anniversary is about commemoration, not ego.
01:38Adding that Calvin Coolidge was alive when he appeared on a commemorative coin during the 150th anniversary.
01:43For them, the outrage is nothing but Trump derangement syndrome.
01:46So what do you think? Is a living president's face on U.S. money a historic tribute or a line
01:52that the dollar shouldn't cross?
01:53Drop your take in the comments and follow us here for more.
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