Trump’s $5 Million Gold Card Visa Program Announced
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick revealed on Wednesday that President Trump’s proposed gold cards, which will allow foreigners to purchase U.S. visas for $5 million, are expected to be available online soon—in just a few weeks, in fact. This news came during an interview at an Axios streaming event, where Lutnick spoke with co-founder Mike Allen about various topics, including the future of job creation and the gold card initiative.
Back in March, Trump mentioned that these gold cards would be sold rapidly. He described this new path to U.S. citizenship as a way for those who can create jobs anywhere in the world to buy their way into citizenship here.
Allen inquired whether he could personally make use of a $5 million card, to which Lutnick responded that he hopes the site Trumpcard.gov will be operational shortly.
Lutnick indicated that there would be forthcoming details but reassured that registration could commence soon, highlighting that the timeline would be more about weeks than months. During the event, he also shared anecdotes about a recent dinner in the Middle East, mentioning a senior leader questioning his phone usage and jokingly saying, “I sell him cards.” He expressed that non-Americans would be keen to purchase a card if financially able.
While admitting that not everyone could afford such a card, he argued that those who could would help contribute to paying down the nation’s debts. He pondered why individuals wouldn’t want this alternative, suggesting that welcoming immigrants at U.S. airports stands in stark contrast to situations where, if there’s trouble in their home country, they’re left without options.
Lutnick further added that those willing to pay for a visa would be seen as individuals ready to bring business and opportunities to America. He painted a picture where, hypothetically, if 200,000 individuals purchased a gold card at $5 million each, it would generate a staggering $1 trillion.
He emphasized that currently, the U.S. issues about 280,000 free visas annually and that there are millions of undocumented individuals in the country. Lutnick’s remarks implied that a robust program could rectify some of these immigration challenges, aiming to make America better economically.
However, experts have raised concerns about potential fraud and national security risks associated with this visa program. Lora Ries from the Heritage Foundation previously highlighted these risks, cautioning that immigration benefits often lead to deceptive practices. During a later interview, Lutnick assured that all applicants would undergo a rigorous vetting process, stating that these individuals could become significant contributors to American society.
With these developments, Trump’s gold card proposal is certainly garnering both interest and skepticism as it unfolds.
