A quarter of Donald Trump's most devoted supporters oppose printing his face on $250 bills, according to new polling that reveals fractures even within his core base of backing.
The YouGov survey found that while Trump commands an exceptional 91% approval rating among self-identified MAGA Republicans overall, far fewer endorse the currency proposal. Just 48% of MAGA loyalists favor putting his portrait on cash, while 26% actively oppose it and another 26% remain undecided.
The resistance extends beyond Trump's inner circle. Among Republicans more broadly, 35% oppose the plan, compared with 40% in favor and 24% unsure.
The push for a Trump $250 bill stems from a congressional ally's proposal to issue a commemorative note commemorating America's 250th anniversary. While the idea has stalled on Capitol Hill, a Treasury official requested mock-ups of the potential bill, signaling at least some administrative preparation.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent addressed the prototypes during a Wednesday congressional hearing, explaining they were created to position the department ahead of potential legislative action. "That was in coordination with pending legislation in the Congress to change the requirement that a person must be deceased to be on the currency," Bessent said, emphasizing that the Treasury "will follow the law" and won't move forward without congressional authorization.
Significant legal barriers exist. Congress in 1866 passed a law prohibiting any living person from appearing on currency notes, bonds or securities. A separate statute limits denominations to $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 bills. A $250 denomination does not exist under current law.
The YouGov survey polled 1,604 U.S. adults between May 29 and June 1, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
Author James Rodriguez: "Even Trump's truest believers aren't ready to carry him in their wallets, and that tells you something about where the appetite actually sits for this kind of symbolic elevation."
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