The U.S. Treasury Department intends to mint a $1 coin with President Donald Trump on it, Fox Business News announced on Friday, but keen observers note a possible major snag.
"Despite the radical left's forced shutdown of our government, the facts are clear: Under the historic leadership of President Donald J. Trump, our nation is entering its 250th anniversary stronger, more prosperous, and better than ever," said a Treasury Department spokesperson in a statement to Fox Business.
Several people pointed out that the 1866 Thayer amendment, passed by Republican Martin Russell Thayer, and subsequent laws prohibit living people from being depicted on American currency. So, for Trump to put himself on a coin, the law says he would have to die.
Defector captured a page from the U.S. Treasury website that confirms the law in a "Frequently Asked Questions" section.
Chris Thompson, who writes for Defector.com, reported that a source told the site that "workers at the Mint had been ordered to begin striking what are called 'set-up coins,' the final step before production, as of Thursday afternoon."
The image shows Trump's profile on one side with his depiction on the back with his fist in the air, citing his demand "fight, fight, fight," which he shouted at a campaign event after a gunman opened fire at him.
It earned swift rebuke from those who are familiar with the law and others who oppose such a commemoration of Trump at the expense of taxpayer dollars.
"Rampant vandalism, and I know there's a regular claim this is different from the GOP before him, but the notion 'nobody can do squat about POTUS breaking the law because Republicans are Kings' was a Scalia thing and is endorsed by every Republican on SCOTUS, including the 3 appointed pre-Trump," lamented lawyer Max Kennerly.
Law school professor Anthony Michael Kreis was furious reading the Politico report about it and noticed there was no mention of the law on the matter.
"*Someone pays with Trump dollars* 'This isn’t legal tender. Try again,'" he added.
Adam Weinstein, who works on "All in with Chris Hayes," pointed to the specific law: "Only the portrait of a deceased individual may appear on United States currency and securities." 31 USC 5114(b).
That piqued the interest of some Trump foes.
Dr. Meredith Willis, an astrophysicist, noted the law saying it was illegal and remarked, "Like that's ever stopped him," with an eye-roll emoji.
Former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann noted the image of the coin, "depicting Trump as...the fat slob sonuvab---- he really is!"
"As a kid, I got into politics partly to do my bit fighting the Soviet Union. Now we have a president who wants to turn us into a country that mimics the Soviet Union," said Bill Kristol, currently writing at The Bulwark.
