Posted on April 21, 2016

Donald Trump Says Harriet Tubman on $20 Is ‘Pure Political Correctness’

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump said Thursday that abolitionist Harriet Tubman is “fantastic” but she shouldn’t replace former President Andrew Jackson on the front of the $20 bill.

He cited “pure political correctness” for the Treasury Department’s decision to feature the African-American abolitionist–who was born into slavery and led the Underground Railroad–instead of the nation’s seventh president, a slave owner.

Speaking on NBC’s “Today” show, Trump said Tubman’s likeness should go on a different denomination.

“Well Andrew Jackson had a great history and I think it’s very rough when you take somebody off the bill,” Trump said. “Andrew Jackson had a history of tremendous success for the country.”

He suggested that “maybe we do the $2 bill” or something else for Tubman.

The currency redesign announced Wednesday by Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, marks two historic milestones: Tubman will become the first African-American on U.S. currency and the first woman to be depicted on paper money in 100 years.

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The $5 bill will also undergo change: The illustration of the Lincoln Memorial on the back will be redesigned to honor “events at the Lincoln Memorial that helped to shape our history and our democracy.” The back of the bill will include civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., along with Marian Anderson and Eleanor Roosevelt.

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