1. United States
2. Ill.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the reported plans by the U.S. Treasury Department to mint a dollar coin featuring Donald Trump's likeness. This action is not only a departure from tradition but also appears to be in direct violation of long-standing law governing the depiction of individuals on U.S. currency. The Thayer amendment of 1866 explicitly prohibits the minting of coins with the likenesses of living persons. This law has been respected for over 150 years and serves to prevent the use of our national currency for political propaganda or the cult of personality. It's crucial to emphasize that this law requires an individual to be actually deceased, not merely brain-dead or morally-dead. The reported Trump dollar coin, showing the former president in profile and raising a fist with the text "FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT," is a clear violation of this law as Donald Trump is very much alive. This is not a matter of interpretation or a gray area – it's a straightforward legal requirement that must be upheld. I urge you to take immediate action to halt the production of this coin and to investigate how this project was initiated and approved. The integrity of our currency and the principles of our democracy are at stake. We must ensure that our monetary system remains above partisan politics and adheres strictly to the letter of the law. Furthermore, I request that you support measures to reinforce and clarify the existing prohibitions on depicting living persons on U.S. currency. This will help prevent future attempts to circumvent these important regulations and ensure that only truly deceased individuals are considered for such honors. The Treasury's silence on this matter is deeply concerning. As my representative, I ask that you demand transparency from the Treasury Department and hold them accountable for any violations of law or misuse of public resources. Our currency should reflect our nation's values and history, not serve as a tool for political messaging or personal aggrandizement. I trust you will act swiftly to address this issue and uphold the laws that govern our monetary system, ensuring that only those who have passed away are considered for depiction on U.S. currency.