Trump Proposes $5 Million 'Gold Card' as New Path to U.S. Citizenship

WCTU CLEVELAND 13 — President Donald Trump has announced a plan to introduce a $5 million “Gold Card” that would grant green card privileges and provide a pathway to U.S. citizenship for wealthy investors. The initiative aims to replace the current EB-5 visa program, which requires participants to invest around $1 million and create at least 10 jobs to obtain a green card.

"We're gonna be selling a gold card. You have a green card. This is a gold card," Trump said. "We're gonna be putting a price on that card of about $5 million, and that's gonna give you green card privileges. Plus, it's gonna be a route to citizenship."

The proposed Gold Card is intended to attract wealthy investors who would spend money, pay taxes, and create jobs in the U.S. Trump believes this influx of capital could significantly reduce the national deficit and potentially the national debt.

Trump’s commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, supported the plan, criticizing the current EB-5 program as being riddled with "nonsense, make believe and fraud." He argued that the Gold Card would provide a more transparent and economically beneficial alternative. “Why do we give out lotteries of green cards? Why do we give out EB-5 for green cards? The President understands that the right answer is, why don't we eliminate the deficit of the United States of America?” Lutnick said.

Trump confirmed that the Gold Card would require thorough vetting of applicants to ensure they are "wonderful, world-class global citizens." When asked whether Russian oligarchs would be eligible, Trump responded, “Yeah, possibly. Hey, I know some Russian oligarchs that are very nice people. It's possible... No, a lot of people are gonna wanna be in this country, and they'll be able to work and provide jobs and build companies and pay taxes.”

Legal experts are questioning whether Trump can implement this plan without Congressional approval, as the EB-5 program was reauthorized by Congress in 2022. However, Trump maintains that he does not need Congress for this initiative, saying, “No, we don’t need Congress, no. Because we're not doing citizenship. We're doing the card. It’s a path. It's a path to citizenship. A very strong path to citizenship. But we're not doing the citizenship. For that, I’d have to get Congress.”

Trump's Gold Card proposal could face legal challenges and political opposition, particularly over its implications for U.S. immigration policy. The feasibility of this initiative will depend on whether sufficient wealthy investors are willing to participate and how the plan navigates legal and political hurdles.

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