Meet Trump’s ‘favourite British artist’ designing the White House’s new $250 bill
A former British DJ and professional swimmer is spearheading the design of a possible $250 bill featuring Donald Trump.
Artist Iain Alexander has confirmed he is the man behind the controversial bill, which also features the president’s mugshot, according to a photo of the design. Washington Post.
Despite his online presence and small following on social media, the Briton is close to the president, Queen Elizabeth II. Elizabeth says she has designed artwork for Elon Musk and Tyson Fury.
He told the newspaper that US President Trump “likes to call me his favorite British artist”.
Trump officials at the Treasury Department have been pushing for the bill’s creation to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the birth of the United States. But federal law states that only deceased people can appear on currency.
Mr. Alexander said he suggested a “women’s liberation” theme for the back of the note, which featured Betsy Ross, an American upholsterer who made flags during the American Revolution.
“[Donald Trump] I absolutely loved it,” he told the paper.
In addition to drafting the bill, Mr. Alexander is also working on a much larger project for the 250th anniversary of Independence Day on July 4, but he added that it has been difficult to get feedback from the president since the war began in Iran.
The artist also created a three-dimensional artwork that he claims was presented to Queen Elizabeth on her 70th anniversary in 2022.
According to his social media account, he was also the artist behind the family portrait of professional boxer Tyson Fury’s family.
The painter is seen on his Instagram account with a number of well-known celebrities, including Lionel Richie, and has also been photographed at Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago Club on numerous occasions.
In 2024, he posted a photo alongside a portrait he created of Donald Trump. He wrote: “Congratulations, Mr. President. It has been a pleasure working for you these past two weeks.”
She posted another photo with the president in April last year.
Mr. Alexander also shared a picture of a package for Elon Musk and a later painting by his mother, Maya Musk.
“When you work with the very wealthy, they already have so much stuff, so the only thing you can order for them is something different or unique, something one-off, something they can’t just go and buy off the showroom floor,” he said in a previous interview with Lux magazine.
Mr Alexander talked about joining the Great Britain swimming team for the 2000 Olympics and said he had to withdraw from the team after suffering an injury.
He then turned to DJing and spent six years traveling the world before opening his own club in Dubai in 2006.
He told the podcast Handsome In 2023, he said he had built a group of high-profile friends and clients through networking.
“Dubai in particular was hosting dinners and networking seven days a week. [It’s] A lot of time and effort to build relationships in a certain way. London is much the same.
“This also comes with late nights [and] drinking and eating according to one’s choice.”
He said on the podcast that Mr Trump was like “marmite”, suggesting that people either loved him or hated him.
“I like controversial people, I like controversy, I think it’s interesting. As you know, I did a series of Banksy-like pieces for one of those closest to me around Donald Trump, with a strong opinion. Instead of being one way or the other, he was a little indecisive. It’s a smart balance of tongue and cheek meeting the strong point, but it’s not too heavy-handed.”
“I find him interesting, I’m not going to lie. I don’t agree with everything, but when he’s not in the news, there’s nothing as exciting as when he’s on.”
Independent He contacted Mr. Alexander and the White House for comment.
