Podcast Summary: Bulwark Takes – "We Can't Believe This Trump Coin is Actually REAL"
Date: October 3, 2025
Host: Sam Stein (A)
Guest: Will Sommer (B)
Overview
In this lively episode of Bulwark Takes, host Sam Stein and reporter Will Sommer dive into the bizarre, headline-grabbing story of the newly commissioned Trump coin—a U.S. Mint dollar proposed to honor the 250th anniversary of American independence, but featuring Donald Trump’s face and the phrase “fight, fight, fight.” The discussion unpacks legal, historical, and cultural angles, drawing comparisons to presidential vanity, examining the cult of personality in Trump-world, and ending with an offbeat tangent about personal branding and presidential gift-giving.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Trump Coin: Vanity, Legality, and Precedent
- Announcement Details:
- The U.S. Treasurer, Brandon Beach, confirmed the official plan to mint a commemorative coin with Trump’s likeness for the 250th anniversary (00:36).
- The coin features Trump’s fist raised—an homage to his near-assassination—and the inscription “In God We Trust, 1776–2026.”
- Uniqueness and Absurdity:
- Will Sommer reacts:
“As far as I know...this is the first time a president has minted his own coin with his own face. It's crazy. It's unheard of.” (01:37)
- Will Sommer reacts:
- Legal (Il)Legitimacy:
- Sam cites the Thayer Amendment (1866), which bars living individuals' images on U.S. currency or securities:
“No portrait or likeness of any living person shall be engraved or placed upon any of the bond, securities, notes, or postal currency of the United States.” (02:14)
- Sam cites the Thayer Amendment (1866), which bars living individuals' images on U.S. currency or securities:
2. Presidential Ego and 'Hijacking' the National Celebration
- Will contrasts the outrage over Obama’s perceived self-regard with Trump’s literal currency:
“In the Obama administration, Republicans would look at his speeches and...be like, this guy's an egomaniac. And now...a president has minted his own coin with his own face.” (01:39)
- The upcoming 250th anniversary is seen as subsumed by Trump’s personal cult:
“Trump is really hijacking the 250th anniversary to be a celebration of Trump.” – Will Sommer (04:08)
- Sam jokes about potential future pageantry:
“We're going to have, like, a UFC fight. It's going to be weird. He's going to make it all about him.” (04:11)
3. Other Political Memorabilia: The Cult of Coins and Badges
- The discussion broadens to the proliferation of “challenge coins" and branded memorabilia among Trump allies:
- Cash Patel’s “challenge coin,” shaped like the Punisher with guns, is highlighted as further cult symbolism (04:36–04:56).
- Will connects the trend to wider authoritarian impulses:
“At least in the Trump case, it's this kind of rising authoritarianism...whatever Trump wants...he's going to get, whether it's the law or not.” (05:07)
- Speculates about the fate of the cottage industry of private Trump memorabilia once there is an official government-issued coin:
“I wonder how those people feel. I suspect their industry is probably going to be crushed.” (05:44)
4. Speculation About More Trump-related Coins
- The hosts muse over who else from Trump-world could appear on commemorative coins and what that signals about Trump’s self-importance:
“His would have to be the most valuable in this system...I don't know if he would put other coins because...who would he care to see in a coin? Like the Stephen Miller coin? I can't see that.” – Sam Stein (06:26)
5. Presidential Gift-Giving and Bizarre Bureaucratic Fallout
- A New York Times story is recounted about Trump’s attempt to gift King Charles an Eisenhower sword—a plot thwarted by regulations and ending with the Eisenhower Library director losing his job because of it (06:47–08:33).
- The exchange lampoons the petty and transactional nature of presidential favor, with Will noting the absurdity of using “GiftGirl2025” as a State Department contact email:
“The idea of just getting an email from Gift Girl 2025, it's like, ‘Hey, I'm going to need you to pack up that sword and send it over.’” (08:33)
6. Parallels & Contrasts to Obama
- Sam contrasts the mockery of Obama’s “Roman columns” DNC speech backdrop with the Trump coin, highlighting the escalation of presidential ego (09:00–09:33).
7. Offbeat: Barron Trump’s ‘Ultimate Chad Move’
- Will mentions a Fox News story about Barron Trump shutting down a floor of Trump Tower for a date, with mockery of the over-the-top coverage and perspective on privilege (09:49–10:33).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On the Trump Coin’s Vanity:
“This is vanity on a level that I don’t think we’ve ever witnessed in America.” – Sam Stein (00:58)
- On Precedent and Ego:
“Now we have a president who wants his face on a coin. So I guess, you know, we’ve come full circle.” – Sam Stein (09:33)
- On Legal Restrictions:
“The Thayer amendment...states explicitly that ‘no portrait or likeness of any living person shall be engraved or placed upon any of the bond, securities, notes or postal currency of the United States.’ That’s pretty cut and dry.” – Sam Stein (02:14)
- On Future Celebration:
“For me, 2026 was really the important one. It’s the only one I can enjoy. And unfortunately, because Trump is president, it’s really becoming like the celebration of Trump rather than...the 250th anniversary.” – Will Sommer (03:43)
- On the Eisenhower Sword and Bureaucracy:
“I think there’s a couple interesting things here...they specifically said this guy was no longer the head of the library...because he was no longer trusted to handle classified information. So I imagine they probably pulled his security clearance, which is funny because...what’s the classified information that the Eisenhower Library has?” – Will Sommer (07:48)
- On Barron Trump and 'Chad Moves':
“I just want to say his dad owns the building, folks. It’s not, it’s not that impressive.” – Will Sommer (10:01)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:36: Trump coin description, government confirmation
- 01:37: Vanity, legality, and precedent for living persons on U.S. currency
- 02:14: The Thayer Amendment and its implications
- 04:08: Trump hijacking America’s 250th anniversary
- 04:36: The rise (and possible fall) of Trump challenge coins and memorabilia
- 06:26: Future of Trump-world coins
- 06:47-08:33: Trump’s gift-giving saga, sword story, and “GiftGirl2025”
- 09:00: Obama parallels and shifts in presidential ego
- 09:49: Barron Trump floor shutdown anecdote
Tone & Style
The conversation is witty, incredulous, and irreverent—marked by good-natured ribbing and a resigned, almost bemused disbelief at the current state of political spectacle and self-promotion. The hosts’ rapport contributes to a tone that is equal parts critique and satire.
This summary provides the main arguments, context, and memorable asides from The Bulwark’s lively coverage of the “Trump Coin” saga—delivering a comprehensive overview for those who missed the episode.