Jack White has criticised the Treasury Department’s plans to put President Donald Trump‘s signature on all new US paper currency.
- READ MORE: Jack White – ‘No Name’ review: surprise album is maestro’s punkiest outing since White Stripes
Traditionally, US currency features only the signatures of the Treasury Secretary and the Treasurer, and Trump’s proposed addition will mark the first time a sitting president’s signature has ever appeared on paper notes.
In a lengthy Instagram post shared yesterday (March 27), White mocked the announcement. “Oh how humble!” he wrote. “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?”
The former White Stripes frontman connected the move to the increasing economic pressures caused by the rise in gas prices triggered by 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,” he continued. “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!”
White also took aim at what he characterised as Congressional inaction, saying Trump was a “manipulative, loophole finding, egomaniacal, conman”, and went on to question if the regulation of Trump’s commercial ventures — which include branded Bibles, commemorative coins and shoes – were functioning at all.
“I’m sure Congress is regulating all that though and not just letting him break the law and profit from his office,” he quipped. “We’re in good hands.”
White rounded off the post by suggesting that Americans might consider marking over Trump’s signature on new banknotes, and tagged his 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?”
It is not the first time White has spoken out against the Trump administration in recent weeks. Last month, he took to social media to criticise Trump’s military offensive in Iran under the guise of regime change.
The musician – who is set to embark on a European tour later this year – has been repeatedly critical of the Trump administration, recently calling for his removal from office after a racist meme was shared on his social media account that depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as apes.
Trump and White also traded insults last August, with White describing the Oval Office redesign as “vulgar, gold leafed and gaudy”, and the White House hitting back by calling the musician a “has-been loser”.