Celebrated rock star and former White Stripes frontman Jack White has criticised the US Treasury Department’s plans to place Donald Trump’s signature on all new US paper currency.
White has called the move a symbol of vanity at a time when everyday Americans are struggling financially.
His comments refer to the Treasury Department’s plans to put Trump’s signature on all new paper currency – a controversial first as US paper currency carries the signatures of the Treasury Secretary and the Treasurer, not the president. This has been the case since 1861.
Starting in June, Trump’s signature could appear on all new paper currency, beginning with $100 bills, with other denominations to follow.
Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent called the move a recognition of “unprecedented economic growth, lasting dollar dominance, and fiscal strength.”
In a lengthy Instagram post, White mocked the announcement.
“Oh how humble!” wrote the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee. “But why stop there donnie? Why don’t you use your small hands to sign into law that your oh so stern orange face appears on the front of the hundred dollar bill as well?”
White’s post continued with reference to Trump’s recent threats to Cuba: “Invade Cuba next? Sure! Go ahead, nobody’s stopping you. America gave the most powerful seat in the world to a manipulative, loophole finding, egomaniacal, conman.”
White connected the signature-on-bills move to the broader economic pressures facing ordinary Americans, highlighting rising gas prices as a result of Trump’s military campaign against Iran.
“TSA agents are selling plasma to pay rent while he takes the day off, cheats at golf, and bombs other countries for fun,” White wrote. “Gas prices are surging as a worldwide crisis that HE caused rages in the Middle East; it’s the perfect time to joke on fox ‘news’, visit Graceland, and sign into law to have your bloated, cocky signature on all U.S. currency!”
“I’m sure Congress is regulating all that though and not just letting him break the law and profit from his office,” he wrote sarcastically. “We’re in good hands.”
White concluded by suggesting that Americans might consider marking over Trump’s signature on new banknotes, tagging the post #redactedbanknotes.
“Wouldn’t it be funny if someone started a campaign to black magic marker line out his name every time you receive a new banknote?” he wrote. “I think that’s against the law to deface U.S. currency, so I would never suggest that becoming a nationwide campaign…but is everyone allowed to break the law when they feel like it or just donnie?”
This is far from the first time that White has spoken out against Trump and his administration.
Most recently, he criticised the president’s declaration of war against Iran on social media, writing: “Behold the leader of the ‘Board of Peace.’”
Last month, the musician called for Trump’s removal from office after a racist meme was shared on his social media account that depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as apes.
“This post would basically get anyone, at any job, fired immediately…except for arguably the most important position in the world,” White wrote. “That’s right, Trump is a racist, a rapist, a felon, a grifter (currently ordering the U.S. government to pay him $10 billion simply because no one will stop him), and a full-on dementia sufferer, and yet he has the power to send in Gestapo ICE soldiers to kill our citizens, and so much more dangerously, he has the nuclear codes and the ability to end humanity at any moment based on an egotistical whim,” he continued.
“How is it possible we’ve given this evil man so much power? The two-party system, the Electoral College, the responsibility the internet has brought to humanity and its direct conflict with truth, and America’s obsession with celebrity, are all to blame, but the fact that we aren’t stopping it is…insanity.”
“Arrest this man,” White urged. “Impeach this man. 25th Amendment this man. Indict this man. Jail this man.”
Jack White is set to embark on a European tour this year, including a gig at Lyon’s Nuits de Fourvière – one of Euronews Culture’s favourite European summer festivals.
Check out his European tour dates:
MAY
- 30 – Sigulda, Latvia – Sigulda Castle
JUNE
- 1 – Warsaw, Poland – Klub Stodola
- 2 – Krakow, Poland – Klub Studio
- 4 – Berlin, Germany – Columbiahalle
- 5 – Hamburg, Germany – Georg Elser Halle
- 6 – Northside Festival – Aarhus, Denmark
- 8 – Malmo, Sweden – Slagthuset
- 12 – Best Kept Secret Fesrtival – Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands
- 13 – Paris, France – L’Olympia
- 14 – Paris, France – L’Olympia
- 16 – Brussels, Belgium – Ancienne Belgique
- 17 – Brussels, Belgium – Ancienne Belgique
- 18 – Nuits de Fourvière – Lyon, France
- 19 – La Prima Estate – Camaiore, Italy
- 21 – Arena Alpe Adria – Lignano Sabbiardoro, Italy
- 22-24 – INMusic Festival – Zagreb, Croatia