The Trump administration’s odd new immigration program, the Trump Gold Card Visa, is already facing controversy and skepticism after a dramatic price slash just days after launch. Initially introduced at $5 million per applicant, the program is now being offered at $1 million. This is a whopping 80 percent cut.
Citizenship for Sale
On Sept. 19, President Donald Trump signed an executive order formalizing the program, promising “U.S. residency in record time” for wealthy foreign nationals who make a $1 million contribution to the Commerce Department. The order also introduced a $2 million corporate version, allowing businesses to sponsor employees, and teased a future $5 million “Trump Platinum Card” with extended U.S. stays and foreign tax exemptions.
But the abrupt pivot in pricing immediately raised concerns. Nuri Katz, founder of Apex Capital Partners, told Forbes that the move was “an admission of failure,” noting the steep cost of entry limited the program to only the world’s ultra-wealthy. According to Henley & Partners, there are fewer than 30,000 individuals globally worth $100 million or more, many of them already U.S. citizens.
Critics are also sounding alarms about potential abuses. Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois warned that the program could serve as a “welcome mat for Russian oligarchs and cartel bosses,” accusing the president of opening the door to criminal elements under the guise of raising revenue. Immigration experts noted that the executive branch lacks authority to create new visa categories without congressional approval, raising doubt if the initiative is actually legal.
The Gold Card is pitched as a revenue stream to help pay down the $36 trillion national debt. Trump has claimed that selling one million Gold Cards could quickly generate $5 trillion. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the administration anticipates issuing 80,000 Gold Cards.
The rollout has been confusing. Alongside the Gold Card, the White House announced a new $100,000 application fee for H-1B visas, used primarily by tech firms and universities to bring highly skilled workers to the U.S. The administration was forced to issue multiple clarifications over the weekend, assuring current H-1B holders that they would not be subject to the fee and clarifying that the payment would apply only to new petitions.