Fury as Trump administration delays plans to include Harriet Tubman on new $20 bill

Donald Trump's treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin confirmed on Wednesday that a redesign of the $20 bill featuring Harriet Tubman would not be released in 2020.

Tubman is widely regarded as an American hero, having escaped the world of slavery that she was born into in the 1820s, Tubman became an activist and helped lead more than 70 slaves to freedom via the underground railroad.

A redesign of the bill, which currently features former president and slave owner Andrew Jackson, was orchestrated under the Obama administration in April 2016 by the then treasury secretary Jacob Lew, who said at the time:

Tubman was not just a historical figure but a role model for leadership and participation in our democracy.

However, during a House Financial Services Committee hearing, Mnuchin said that the design would be happening as planned and that their primary concern was improving the note against 'counterfeiting issues' and then focus on the image later, which has reportedly been postponed until 2028.

Speaking to Democratic Rep Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Mnuchin said:

We will meet the security feature redesign (goal) in 2020. The imagery feature will not be an issue that comes up until most likely 2026

Redesigns of the $10 and $50 bills are set to go ahead as scheduled.

Mnuchin did not add whether he supported the redesign but Trump has previously expressed his admiration of Andrew Jackson and believed that although Tubman was 'fantastic' that she would be better suited to the uncommon $2 note.

Reaction to the Trump administration's decision has been one of overwhelming outrage with many pointing out that Trump has spoken out against the removal of statues of Confederate generals such as Robert E Lee.

Only a handful of American women have ever appeared on dollar bills. These include former first lady Martha Washington and the Native American hero Pocahontas.

The likes of Native American interpreter Sacagawea, suffragette Susan B. Anthony and author Helen Keller have been featured on coins.

HT Daily Mail

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