Two leading Senate Democrats are pressing the Trump administration to stop minting a 24-karat gold coin featuring President Trump's likeness, warning that the gold used by the U.S. Mint may be tainted by ties to foreign criminal organizations.
Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Ron Wyden of Oregon — the top Democrats on the Senate Banking and Finance committees, respectively — sent a letter Thursday to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Mint Director Paul Hollis. They urged an immediate halt to production of the coin, which is part of the administration's celebration of America's 250th birthday.
“At the very least, the Mint should ensure that a coin intended to honor the nation’s 250th anniversary is not made of gold linked to exploitation and criminal activity,” the senators wrote in the letter, which was obtained by The Washington Post.
Their call follows an April report from The New York Times that revealed the Mint has for years purchased gold originating from mines in Colombia controlled by drug cartels, as well as from pawn shops in Mexico, Peru, and other countries. Warren and Wyden argue that this supply chain undermines the integrity of the commemorative coin and raises serious ethical and security questions.
The Democratic senators are also demanding a public review of the gold's sourcing and supply chain. They described the coin as “more befitting a monarchy than a democracy,” echoing broader criticism that the Trump administration is blurring the lines between public office and personal branding.
The Commission of Fine Arts, whose members are all Trump appointees, approved the design for the $1 commemorative gold coin. The proposed image shows Trump with his fists planted on a desk, with the word “Liberty” emblazoned above him.
This coin is just one of several initiatives to imprint Trump's image on government properties and programs. The administration has also pushed the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to design a new $250 bill featuring Trump's face, a move that drew swift backlash from Democrats who accused him of acting like a “wannabe King.”
The controversy comes amid a broader pattern of partisan friction over Trump's use of federal resources for personal glorification. Trump has also defended other costly renovations and symbolic gestures, while critics argue these efforts distract from pressing policy issues.
The Hill has reached out to the Treasury Department for comment on the senators' letter. The department has not yet responded publicly.
Warren and Wyden's demand is the latest in a series of Democratic challenges to Trump's agenda, which has faced bipartisan pushback on multiple fronts. The coin's fate now rests with Treasury and Mint officials, who must decide whether to comply with the senators' request or proceed with production.
