Trump Proposes $5 Million “Gold Card” for Wealthy Immigrants
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to introduce a $5 million “Gold Card” program, offering wealthy immigrants a fast-track path to U.S. citizenship. The initiative aims to replace the existing EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa program, which grants green cards to foreign investors who create or preserve American jobs.
“We are going to be selling a Gold Card… giving green card privileges and a route to U.S. citizenship,” Trump stated. Predicting the sale of one million cards, he emphasized that the program could help pay down the national debt.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick criticized the EB-5 program as “full of nonsense, make-believe, and fraud,” supporting Trump’s decision to replace it. Unlike the EB-5 visa, which has long been scrutinized, the Gold Card would set a fixed price for residency and citizenship eligibility.
When asked if Russian oligarchs could qualify, Trump responded, “Yeah, possibly. I know some Russian oligarchs that are very nice people.” More details on the program are expected in two weeks.
The proposal has sparked debate, with critics raising concerns about selling citizenship and its potential impact on immigration fairness. However, Trump remains confident in attracting affluent investors to the U.S. through this new initiative.
