A federal arts commission, whose members were all appointed by Donald Trump, has unanimously approved the design of a 24-karat gold commemorative coin bearing the US president's own image. The coin is intended to mark the United States' 250th anniversary.

The US Commission of Fine Arts, whose previous six members were fired last October and replaced with individuals hand-picked by Trump, gave its final approval on Thursday. Trump's Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, is now expected to order the minting of the coin.

The coin will not circulate as currency and is likely to be released as part of a limited collector's series. Two additional coins featuring the president's image are reportedly planned: a $1 piece for circulation and a one-ounce gold coin.

Since returning to power in January 2025, Trump has allegedly launched a series of efforts to imprint his legacy on US culture and history. He has purportedly renamed the Kennedy Center for the Arts in Washington after himself and approved the construction of a controversial ballroom at the White House.

The latest move has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats and some advisory officials. A separate bipartisan federal panel had refused to consider the gold coin proposal last month. Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley stated to Reuters that only "monarchs and dictators put their faces on coins, not leaders of a democracy," highlighting the societal friction and perceived erosion of democratic norms under the current US regime.

Source: www.dw.com