Gold coin with Trump likeness planned – committee agrees

News blog about US politics

Gold coin with Trump likeness planned – “The bigger, the better”

Trump makes remarks about Pearl Harbor to Japanese delegation. The central bank announces its interest rate decision. All developments in the news blog.

A US art committee has approved the minting of a commemorative gold coin featuring the likeness of US President Donald Trump. The decision of the members of the committee appointed by US President Trump was unanimous. The coin is part of a series that the US Mint plans to produce to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States this year.

When a U.S. Mint official presented a design of the coin, there was also discussion about the diameter of the 24-karat gold coin, which could be up to 3 inches (7.6 centimeters). Chamberlain Harris, a White House adviser appointed by Trump to the arts commission, said the largest possible coin was Trump’s wish. “The bigger the better,” she declared shortly before the full committee approved it. The US Mint will now determine the final dimensions.

The Trump administration has also proposed minting a one-dollar coin bearing Trump’s likeness, which would go into circulation later this year. Donald Scarinci, a member of another advisory panel that rejected the gold coin proposal last month, said the one-dollar coin would clearly violate a law. According to this, the image of a current or former president may only appear on a dollar coin three years after his or her death. However, there is a possible loophole for the gold coin as it is a collector’s coin not intended for circulation.

US President Donald Trump irritated Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi with a historical comparison to Pearl Harbor. During her visit to the White House, Trump spoke about how the United States had used the element of surprise when attacking Iran. “Who knows surprises better than Japan,” Trump asked, causing laughter in the room.

“Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor,” Trump asked the Japanese. He believes that Japan relies much more on surprises than the USA. Takaichi then sat up in her chair, visibly tense, and looked in the direction of her delegation.

Japan bombed the US base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941. More than 2,400 people died in the surprise attack. The USA then entered World War II.