Meet Trump’s ‘favourite British artist’ designing the White House’s new $250 bill – The Independent
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Iain Alexander claims he’s painted portraits of the US president, Queen Elizabeth II, and Elon Musk’s mother
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A former British DJ and professional swimmer is leading the way in the design of a possible $250 banknote featuring Donald Trump.
Artist Iain Alexander has confirmed he is the man behind the controversial bill, which includes the president’s mugshot, according to a photo of the design obtained by The Washington Post.
Despite a fairly minor internet presence and small following on social media, the Briton says he has designed art for the president, Queen Elizabeth II, Elon Musk, and Tyson Fury.
He told the newspaper that US president Trump “likes to call me his favourite British artist.”
Trump officials at the Treasury Department are pushing for the creation of the banknote to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of the US. However, federal law states that only deceased people can appear on currency.
Mr Alexander said he had proposed a theme of “women’s liberation” for the back of the note, which features American upholsterer Betsy Ross, who made flags during the American Revolution.
“[Donald Trump] absolutely loved it,” he told the newspaper.
Aside from designing the bill, Mr Alexander is also working on a much larger project for the 250th anniversary for Independence Day on 4 July, but added it was difficult to get feedback from the president since the war in Iran broke out.
A post shared by IAIN ALEXANDER ART (@iainalexanderart)
The artist has also created a three-dimensional artwork of Queen Elizabeth, which he claims was presented to her on her 70th Jubilee in 2022.
According to his social media, he was also the artist behind a family portrait of professional boxer Tyson Fury’s family.
The painter is seen with several high-profile celebrities on his Instagram, including Lionel Richie, and is also pictured at Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago Club on numerous occasions.
In 2024, he posted a photo with Donald Trump alongside a portrait he created of him. He wrote: “Congratulations, Mr President. It has been a pleasure to work for you over the last two weeks.”
Last year in April, he posted another photo with the president.
A post shared by IAIN ALEXANDER ART (@iainalexanderart)
Mr Alexander also shared a picture of a package for Elon Musk, and later, a painting he made of his mother, Maya Musk.
In an earlier interview with Lux magazine, he said: “When you are working with the very wealthy, they already have so much, so the only thing you can order them is something different or unique, a one-off, something that they can’t go and buy from a gallery floor.”
Mr Alexander has spoken about making the GB swimming team for the 2000 Olympics, which he said he had to pull out of after suffering from an injury.
He then turned to DJ’ing and spent six years travelling around the world, before opening his own club in Dubai in 2006.
He told podcast Personable in 2023 that he had created his group of high-profile friends and clients through networking.
“Dubai especially was seven days a week, hosting meals, networking. [It’s] a lot of time and effort to build relationships in a certain way. London’s very much the same.
“That also comes with late nights [and] depending on the choice of the person, drinking, eating.”
A post shared by IAIN ALEXANDER ART (@iainalexanderart)
He told the podcast that Mr Trump was like “marmite”, suggesting that people either love or hate him.
“I like controversial people, I like controversy, I think it’s interesting. As you know, I did a series of pieces for one of my very closest around Donald Trump, with a Banksy-esque, strong opinion. It kind of sat on the fence a bit, as opposed to being one way or another. It has a clever sort of balance between tongue and cheek meet strong point, but nothing too heavy.
“I find him interesting, I won’t lie. I don’t necessarily agree with everything, but when he is not in the news, there isn’t anything nearly as exciting as when he is.”
The Independent contacted Mr Alexander and the White House for comment.
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