Trump’s $5 Million “Gold Card” Plan: A New Twist on Immigrant Investment.
President Donald Trump dropped a bombshell yesterday that’s already lighting up debates across the nation: a plan to sell $5 million “gold cards” to wealthy foreigners, offering them a fast track to U.S. citizenship. Unveiled alongside Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the proposal aims to replace the EB-5 investor visa program with a glitzy, high-stakes alternative designed to lure “successful” entrepreneurs and deep-pocketed job creators to American shores.
The pitch? For $5 million, buyers get green card privileges and a shot at becoming U.S. citizens—no congressional approval required, Trump claims, with a rollout possible in just two weeks. Unlike the EB-5, which demands a minimum investment of $800,000 to $1 million and proof of creating 10 jobs, this new program seems to prioritize cold, hard cash over strict job quotas. Trump touted the idea as a double win: attracting big spenders who’ll pay taxes and boost the economy, while funneling billions—maybe trillions—into slashing the national debt. “We could sell millions of these,” he said, painting a picture of a revenue goldmine.
Supporters see it as a savvy play to draw global talent and capital, but skeptics are crying foul. Critics argue it’s a gilded pay-to-play scheme that could sidestep immigration norms and invite abuse, with legal experts split on whether Trump can really bypass Congress. The EB-5, long plagued by fraud scandals, set the bar low—$1 million doesn’t buy what it used to—so a $5 million ticket might indeed filter for the elite. But without clear job-creation rules, is this just residency for sale?
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