Trump administration puts plan for Harriet Tubman $20 bill on ice

Reuters ^ | July 7, 2026 | Jasper Ward and David Lawder

[ek_hornbeck]

WASHINGTON, July 7 (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department is no longer planning to put anti-slavery crusader Harriet Tubman on a $20 bill, Treasury ‌Secretary Scott Bessent has told Spectrum News.

"We are not at present," Bessent said when ‌asked in a Monday interview if Treasury was still planning to move ahead with the decade-old plan. Bessent did not ​elaborate, and a Treasury spokesperson declined to comment beyond Bessent's remark.

The Obama administration announced in 2016 that Tubman, who was born into slavery in the early 1820s and went on to help hundreds of slaves escape, would replace seventh U.S. President Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill.

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TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: andrewjackson; dei; harriettubman; politicalcorrectness

[ek_hornbeck]

I'm glad that Trump has put an end to the Obama administration's exercise in political correctness and the historical equivalent of DEI.

Looked at objectively, regardless of political beliefs, it's quite obvious that Jackson was a major historical figure and Tubman a minor one. That in itself made the initiative ridiculous.

Of course, that hasn't stopped some politically correct "conservatives" from rallying in favor of Obama's initiative, either because of a desire to show that establishment Republicans have embraced political correctness, or because of a sheep-like conviction that Andrew Jackson was bad because he was a Democrat - never mind the fact that a Jackson Democrat is more or less the opposite of contemporary Democrats on every issue.

[Sacajaweau]

Good...Let her hometown erect a statue...and pay for it.

[abigkahuna]

perhaps put Tubman on a $5 coin. Lincoln on one side and Tubman on the other. I think we should have more $1, $2 and $5 dollar coins—but thats me.

[ek_hornbeck]

I don’t see any reason to have Harriet Tubman on any of our currency. Smuggling out slaves (mostly friends and family) to free states isn’t a history-changing achievement. There are far more worthy and historically important figures in US history - among them several US Presidents and military leaders from our major wars who don’t appear on coins or bills.

[Dr. Sivana]

I think we should have more $1, $2 and $5 dollar coins—but thats me.

When was the last time you had to operate a cash register drawer? You would need two rows just for coins if you do that. MAYBE when pennies are all but gone.

[ek_hornbeck]

I’m surprised that the Obama administration didn’t push for the psychopathic Nat Turner on one of our bills as well.

[9422WMR]

Maybe they are going to put Helen of Detroit on the 3$ bill.

[BOBWADE]

I was under the impression that this was cancelled already. No need to incur expenses retooling for a non POTUS profile.

[ek_hornbeck]

I suspect that George Floyd and Trayvon Martin are ahead in line for commemorative coins and dollar bills among Democrats.

[Tell It Right]

Reminds me of this oldie but a goodie LOL:

[Vision]

Tubman, while important, is a bit player in America history. She has no place on money. The idea is ludicrous.

I can’t tell if Trump is putting himself on money. If he is he should not.

[ek_hornbeck]

I thought it was canceled as well, perhaps Trump decided to make it official.

No need to incur expenses retooling for a non POTUS profile.

Non-POTUS is fine - we have Ben Franklin on the $100. I'd be all for some of our important military commanders on bills and coins, e.g. Douglas MacArthur, George Patton, etc, or perhaps great inventors and industrialists like Thomas Edison or Henry Ford. The criterion should be one of what impact the person had on US history - major and positive vs. minor or negative.

[Vision]

How about people govern the country and stop our financial collapse from debt instead of indulging themselves like losers.

[ek_hornbeck]

I think/hope he isn’t serious about putting himself on money. It’s unworthy for a US sitting President to do so - it’s something tin pot dictators in banana republics do. History should judge who should be so honored, decades after a public figure is gone.

[MinorityRepublican]

perhaps put Tubman on a $5 coin.

I'll put Harriet Tubman on the back of all quarters for a year. We are already doing that anyway with various designs.

She was an important historical figure. But not on the scale of an American President. It's rare for someone to be that influential, Benjamin Franklin, Elon Musk just to name a few.

[dennisw]

Andrew Jackson was one of the greatest Democrats. So great that Dems used to hold Jefferson-Jackson day dinners in March. I know he was tough on the Indians, but those were the times he lived in, when we were at war with tribes.
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A Jefferson–Jackson Dinner is a title traditionally given to an annual fundraising celebration held by Democratic Party organizations in the United States. It is named for Presidents Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson, which the party traditionally calls its founders. They are usually held in February or March at a local level providing an opportunity for elected officials, candidates, party staff, advisors, and donors to attend.

[volare737]

Save her for the $1 trillion dollar bill.

[sit-rep]

Haven’t we pandered to those friggin people enough? Not only no... ...but fk no!!

[MeanWestTexan]

Tubman was a gun-toting, devoutly Christian, Republican.

Jackson founded the Democrat Party.

On this grounds, alone, I’m in favor of the switch.

[Candor7]

The Communists and Socialists who hate capitalism and free markets should not have any say about who goes on our currency.

Put Chesty Puller on that $20.00.