CITIZENS NEWS

Trump’s $5M “Gold Card” visa program to launch online next week, could bring $1 trillion to U.S.

By isabelle // 2025-05-23

• The Trump administration will launch a $5 million "Gold Card" visa program online within a week, offering wealthy foreigners a fast-track to U.S. citizenship while generating up to $1 trillion in revenue.
• Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced the program, calling it a way to attract successful job creators and help reduce national debt, with applications opening soon on trumpcard.gov.
• The program targets entrepreneurs and investors who can contribute $5 million to the U.S. economy, with Lutnick noting high demand among foreign elites during recent international engagements.
• Despite concerns over fraud and security risks, Lutnick emphasized strict vetting, ensuring applicants align with U.S. interests and bring economic opportunities.
• The initiative contrasts sharply with Biden-era immigration policies, reinforcing Trump’s focus on selective, economically beneficial immigration over what he calls "unvetted" migration.

The Trump administration is set to launch its controversial $5 million "Gold Card" visa program online within a week, offering wealthy foreign nationals a fast-track path to U.S. citizenship while potentially generating $1 trillion in revenue. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced the program’s imminent rollout at an event, framing it as a bold solution to America’s fiscal challenges while attracting "the most successful job-creating people from all over the world." President Donald Trump first introduced the Gold Card concept in March, describing it as a "more sophisticated" alternative to traditional green cards. Unlike standard immigration pathways, this program allows high-net-worth individuals to essentially purchase citizenship by investing $5 million in the U.S. economy. Lutnick confirmed that the application portal, trumpcard.gov, will go live within days, with full program details following shortly after. "People can start to register," Lutnick said. "All that will come over a matter of the next weeks—not month, weeks." The initiative targets entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders who can contribute to economic growth while offsetting national debt through their financial commitments.

Thorough vetting process will be used

Lutnick revealed that demand for the Gold Card is already high, particularly among foreign elites. During a recent dinner in the Middle East, he recounted being asked why he had his phone out. His response? "I am selling him cards." He added, "Basically everyone I meet who’s not an American is going to want to buy the card if they have the fiscal capacity." Despite the program’s exclusivity, Lutnick emphasized that all applicants will undergo strict vetting to ensure they align with U.S. interests. "These are going to be great people who are going to come and bring businesses and opportunity to America," he said. "And they’re going to pay $5 million."

A trillion-dollar solution to national debt?

The financial implications of the Gold Card program could be staggering. Lutnick estimated that if 200,000 individuals purchase the visa, the U.S. could generate $1 trillion in revenue—a figure that dwarfs current immigration-related income. "Remember, we get 280,000 visas per year now for free, not counting the 20 million people who broke into this country for nothing under Biden," he said. "Donald Trump’s gonna bring in a trillion dollars for what purpose? To make America better." Critics, however, warn of potential fraud and national security risks. Lora Ries of the Heritage Foundation’s Border Security and Immigration Center cautioned that "any immigration benefit draws fraud," pointing to past abuses in investor visa programs. Still, Lutnick insists the Gold Card will be tightly controlled, with applicants subject to thorough background checks.

Contrasting immigration strategies

The Gold Card initiative arrives as the Trump administration continues its crackdown on illegal immigration, drawing a sharp contrast with the Biden-era policies that Lutnick blamed for uncontrolled border crossings. While the program offers a legal avenue for wealthy foreigners, it also reinforces Trump’s broader message: America should selectively welcome those who contribute economically rather than admitting migrants through what he deems "unvetted" channels. With the website launch imminent, the administration is poised to test whether high-dollar visas can simultaneously bolster the economy and reduce taxpayer burdens. If successful, the program could redefine U.S. immigration policy, prioritizing financial investment over traditional eligibility criteria. Right now, the world’s wealthy are watching with interest—and many, it seems, are ready to buy in. Sources for this article include: YourNews.com FoxNews.com CNN.com

economy Trump immigration national debt big government finance risk money supply pensions Visa progress government debt gold card visa