Congress Must Reject The Trump Gold Coin And Preserve National Symbols

CONGRESS MUST DRAW A CLEAR LINE NOW TO PREVENT THE POLITICIZATION OF U.S. CURRENCY As a constituent, I write to urge you to oppose the proposed creation of a U.S. Mint gold coin featuring former President Donald Trump, which is currently under active federal consideration. If Congress does not act now, this proposal risks establishing a precedent that future administrations of either party could use to place their own political leaders on U.S. currency, fundamentally altering the role of national symbols. U.S. CURRENCY SHOULD NEVER BE USED TO PROMOTE A LIVING POLITICAL FIGURE The reported 24-karat commemorative coin tied to the 2026 Semiquincentennial would mark a significant break from long-standing safeguards that have kept U.S. currency above politics. Once a contemporary political figure is placed on a coin, there is no principled basis to prevent future leaders - from either party - from seeking similar recognition. What begins as a single exception can quickly become a recurring practice, eroding a boundary that has helped preserve public trust for generations. FEDERAL LAW CONFIRMS THAT CONGRESS HAS BOTH THE AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT Under 31 U.S.C. § 5112, Congress retains authority over the design and issuance of U.S. coinage. This is not a passive role. It is an affirmative responsibility to ensure that national symbols remain credible, nonpartisan, and consistent with long-standing institutional safeguards. Allowing this proposal to move forward without clear standards risks weakening that framework and inviting further politicization in the future. THE CURRENT PROCESS CREATES THE APPEARANCE OF POLITICAL INFLUENCE AND WARRANTS IMMEDIATE REVIEW This proposal is moving forward within a review structure shaped by recent executive appointments, while the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee reportedly declined to advance the design. That divergence creates the appearance of political influence and warrants immediate review to ensure that statutory advisory mechanisms are being respected and that national symbols remain independent and credible. PUBLIC RESOURCES AND NATIONAL SYMBOLS MUST NOT BE USED FOR PERSONAL OR POLITICAL ELEVATION U.S. coinage is not merely symbolic - it reflects the values and priorities of the nation. Public resources should not be used to elevate any current or recent political figure, regardless of party. Maintaining this boundary protects public trust, reinforces institutional credibility, and ensures that national symbols belong to the entire country. CONGRESS MUST ACT IMMEDIATELY TO ESTABLISH ENFORCEABLE GUARDRAILS I respectfully urge Congress to take the following actions: (1) Enact explicit statutory limits prohibiting the depiction of living or recently serving political figures on U.S. currency and commemorative coins. (2) Require binding, independent, bipartisan review as a condition for all coin and medal design approvals. (3) Conduct immediate oversight hearings into the current proposal and the processes governing its advancement. (4) Reassert Congressional authority over commemorative coin programs to prevent executive overreach. (5) Affirm through legislation and oversight that national symbols cannot be used for political promotion by any administration. This is the point at which Congress must draw a clear and lasting line. The integrity of U.S. currency - and the precedent set for future generations - depends on it.