Trump’s $5 Million ‘Gold Card’—A New Pathway to U.S. Citizenship
Big news coming from the White House—Donald Trump has just announced a brand-new immigration initiative called the "Gold Card." And guess what? It comes with a hefty price tag—$5 million. That’s right. For $5 million, wealthy individuals from around the world will be able to secure a pathway to U.S. citizenship.
Trump revealed this plan during an Oval Office press event, emphasizing that this visa program would attract “very high-level people” who would bring economic benefits to the country. The goal? To replace the existing EB-5 investor visa program and, at the same time, use the revenue generated to help reduce the national deficit.
Now, if you’re wondering how this differs from the EB-5 visa, here’s the key change: The EB-5 program currently allows foreign investors to apply for residency by investing around $1.05 million in a U.S. business (or $800,000 in designated areas with high unemployment). But under Trump's "Gold Card" plan, there’s no business investment requirement—just a flat-out $5 million payment for green card privileges and a fast-track to citizenship.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who stood beside Trump during the announcement, described the EB-5 program as "full of nonsense, make-believe, and fraud." He insisted that the Gold Card applicants would be properly vetted. But, as you can imagine, this proposal is already sparking intense debate.
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Some are arguing that this plan turns U.S. citizenship into a luxury product—essentially selling green cards to the highest bidders. Others are concerned about potential misuse, questioning whether this could become an easy way for foreign elites to launder money into the U.S. And of course, immigrant communities who have been waiting for green cards for years are wondering if this will push them further back in line.
Trump’s comments about Russian oligarchs also raised some eyebrows. When asked if they would be eligible for the Gold Card, he responded with a smirk: "Yeah, possibly. Hey, I know some Russian oligarchs that are very nice people." That remark alone is enough to stir controversy.
But for Trump supporters, the numbers speak for themselves. They’re already doing the math—just 200 applicants would generate $1 billion. And if millions of wealthy individuals take advantage of this, some believe it could make a significant dent in the $36 trillion U.S. national debt.
While details about implementation are still unclear, Trump suggested that this program could be launched through executive action. However, visa categories and pathways to citizenship typically require congressional approval, so this could face legal and political roadblocks.
Globally, similar programs exist, though at much lower price points. Caribbean nations like St. Lucia, St. Kitts & Nevis, and Dominica offer citizenship for investments ranging from $200,000 to $400,000. Even countries like Turkey and Jordan have investor visa programs. But at $5 million, the U.S. Gold Card would be by far the most expensive.
So, what do you think? Is this a genius move to boost the economy, or does it open the door to selling American citizenship to the ultra-rich? One thing’s for sure—this is a debate that’s only just getting started.
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