Trump faces criticism over U.S. Mint selling $1 coins featuring his face

President Donald Trump's latest venture involves selling $1 commemorative coins for more than double their face value, drawing criticism from ethics watchdogs and lawmakers.

Coin Sale Details

Beginning at noon Wednesday, the U.S. Mint began selling $1 commemorative gold coins featuring Trump's face on its website, marking the country's 250th anniversary. The pricing is as follows:

• $61 for 25 coins
• $154.50 for 100 coins

Interest from Trump supporters has been so high that an online waiting room was established to manage demand.

Production and Design

According to a U.S. Mint press release, 250,000 coins were pressed on July 4 and carry a "July 4" privy mark. The coins feature Trump's official White House portrait—a move critics argue should be illegal under the Presidential $1 Coin Act, which prohibits coins from bearing "the image of a living former or current President" until at least two years after their death.

The Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 also states that living individuals cannot appear on the back of a coin. However, the Trump administration claims the act permits the president to create memorial coins celebrating America's 250th anniversary.

Composition and Controversy

Despite being marketed as "gold" coins, the Treasury Department confirmed they are not made of gold but have a "gold-like finish."

This has not deterred Trump supporters, who have previously purchased a range of Trump-branded merchandise, including:

• Gaudy golden sneakers
• Trump-branded Bibles made in China
• Unsightly watches
• Overpriced fragrances

Financial Context

Trump has made more than $2.2 billion since being sworn in as president last year. While the majority of that income comes from cryptocurrency, merchandise sales continue to contribute significantly. Critics argue that involving the U.S. Mint in selling coins bearing his likeness represents an ethical breach.

Democratic Leadership Investigates Party Defectors

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries was forced to address a breach of party unity on Tuesday after two Democrats voted to advance the Republican legislative agenda.

The Vote

Representatives Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington and Jared Golden of Maine rescued a procedural rule vote that Republicans were set to lose.

Leadership Response

Jeffries, joined by Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, announced a probe into the two lawmakers. In a joint statement, they said:

"The decision by two of our colleagues to blindside the entire House Democratic Caucus and join with the Republican majority to pass a procedural rule on the brink of failing represents a significant breach of trust. It is an action that necessitates a serious response, and we have asked the Committee on Caucus Rules to take this up in short order."

What the Rule Would Allow

The procedural rule would permit votes on several measures, including:

• A resolution to denounce socialism and praise the Save Act (Trump's voter repression measure)
• A measure to bar federally funded universities from boycotting Israel

Lawmakers' Justifications

• Jared Golden advanced the rule to pass a bill protecting Maine lobstermen from new regulations involving the North Atlantic right whale.
• Marie Gluesenkamp Perez offered a broader rationale, writing on X: "Working America is hanging on by a thread, trying to feed our families without being beholden to big government or big business. Standing around pointing fingers, debating -isms and making people photocopy their birth certificate every time they cast a ballot is not the job."

For further reading: Treasury Unveils New $1 Gold Coin With Trump's Face on It