As his staunch MAGA base and some GOP leaders work to memorialize President Donald Trump — despite his history of racism and hate-filled rhetoric — civil rights and equity advocates must work to push back against the executive orders threatening American democracy and some of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens.
“Elon Musk, Donald Trump and the other members of the current MAGA Government are all dangers to democracy,” social media user John Stoddard wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Voting for Trump in the U.S. presidential election was a big mistake which will affect the whole world, not just the USA.”
In just over two months in office, Trump has eliminated federal diversity, equity and inclusion programming, increased tariffs, threatened revoking funding for institutions teaching aspects of Black history, and with the Department of Government Efficiency, under the direction of Elon Musk, terminated or furloughed thousands of federal workers around the nation.
Despite such challenges, weeks ago, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) announced plans to honor President Donald Trump by adding his portrait to the $250 bill, which is presently not in American currency.
“I’m grateful to announce that I am drafting legislation to direct the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to design a $250 featuring Donald J. Trump,” Wilson wrote on X. “Biden inflation has destroyed the economy, forcing American families to carry more cash. Most valuable bill for the most valuable president.”
Wilson, who famously yelled “You lie” as President Obama addressed a joint session of Congress in 2009, hopes that Trump will sign his legislation into law on or before July 4, 2026, the day the United States will celebrate its 250th anniversary.
Presently, four American presidents appear on American currency: George Washington on the $1 bill, Thomas Jefferson on the $2 bill, Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill, and Ulysses Grant on the $50 bill.
Although Alexander Hamilton and Ben Franklin were not presidents, they appear on the $10 and $100 bills, respectively.
It is important to note that since 1866, the law has forbidden the depiction of any living person on American currency notes, bonds, or securities.
Further, there are many deserving, barrier-breaking Americans who have yet to appear on currency.
In 2016 the Obama Administration announced plans to replace Jackson on the $20 bill with the 19th-century abolitionist Harriet Tubman, who died in 1913. However, during his first administration, Trump canceled plans for Tubman’s likeness to replace Jackson’s, declaring the proposed new currency “pure political correctness.”
Although Trump knocked down commemorating a great American and Civil War hero, Wilson’s legislation is among several initiatives from the president’s MAGA supporters to honor his likeness while he’s still living. One member of Congress has suggested designating the president’s birthday as a federal holiday. Two others have introduced bills to rename Dulles Airport in his honor and to add his likeness to Mount Rushmore.
“This is exactly what the American Revolution was fought to prevent,” Princeton University Professor Sean Wilentz said in an interview with Politico, “[efftots] to transform a sitting president into a kind of deified individual.”
With such plans proposed and racially and socially regressive executive orders already in place, we all have a duty and obligation to stay vigilant as Trump implements MAGA rule on the government.
So many people, including many who voted for him, are already feeling the pain of his rule. Despite his pleas against it, it’s up to every American to stay “woke” to the president and GOP’s plans, in order to combat injustices and threats to democracy.