Former President Donald Trump is making headlines once again with a bold new immigration proposal… introducing a “Gold Card” visa aimed at attracting high-net-worth individuals to the U.S. For a hefty price tag of $5 million, foreign investors would be granted lawful permanent residency, effectively offering a pay-to-stay pathway to citizenship.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump revealed that the “Gold Card” program would roll out within two weeks, bringing in what he described as “very high-level people.” He suggested that revenue from the initiative could help reduce the national deficit, touting the plan as a win-win for the U.S. economy.
“Wealthy and successful people will be coming into our country by buying this card,” Trump stated. “They’ll spend a lot of money, create jobs, and pay a lot of taxes.”
Trump’s Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick referred to the proposal as the “Trump Gold Card”, suggesting it would effectively replace the current EB-5 immigrant investor visa. Under the EB-5 program, foreign nationals can gain residency by investing at least $1.05 million in a new business… or $800,000 if the investment is in a rural or high-unemployment area.
Lutnick didn’t hold back on his criticism of EB-5, calling it “full of nonsense, make-believe, and fraud.” He assured reporters that applicants for the Gold Card visa would undergo a thorough vetting process.
When asked whether Russian oligarchs could purchase their way into the U.S. with this new visa, Trump quipped, “Yeah, possibly. Hey, I know some Russian oligarchs that are very nice people.”
While details of the program are still emerging, one thing is clear… Trump’s Gold Card visa is sparking major debate. Is it a smart economic move, or just another way for the ultra-wealthy to buy their way into America?
