Former President Donald Trump has once again captured headlines and consumer enthusiasm — this time with a mysterious new product dubbed the “Trump Gold Card.”
Despite limited public details and the fact that the card hasn’t officially launched, nearly 70,000 people have already signed up, according to Trump’s website analytics.
What Is the Trump Gold Card?
Meant for wealthy foreigners, the Trump Card would grant them residency and work rights as well as a path to citizenship without going through the usual hassle or red tape. It is a $5 million investment-for-residency visa designed to replace the EB‑5 program. Although not yet live, it’s already attracting massive attention.
CBS News reports that over 5 million unique visitors have checked out the card’s website since the sign-up campaign began last week, a staggering figure even by Trump’s standards.
- A proposed premium visa reselling permanent U.S. residency—plus a pathway to citizenship—in exchange for a minimum $5 million investment.
- Intentionally positioned as a higher-tier version of the EB‑5 visa, which currently requires $800k–$1.05 million and requires job creation.
- Key differences: no job creation requirement, higher financial bar, no federal tax on foreign income, and rebranded as Gold Card.
Sign‑Ups Surge Before Launch
- Roughly 70,000 individuals have already registered on trumpcard.gov for the waitlist.
- Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick promoted the card during a recent Middle East tour, stating the program targets 200,000 cards and could raise up to $1 trillion.
- Within 15 hours, the waitlist hit 15,000, equaling $75 billion committed.
Administration Objectives
- Economic aims: To attract wealthy global investors, generate revenue to reduce national debt, and boost economic activity.
- Serve as a direct replacement for EB‑5, simplifying the immigrant investor route while eliminating fraud-prone aspects.
- Could fund immigration enforcement efforts, including deportations, as per Commerce Secretary.
Legal & Political Hurdles
- Congressional approval is required: Immigration law changes need legislative backing, and experts warn the program might exceed presidential authority.
- The initiative has sparked legal questions over whether using “parole” or executive action can authorize it properly.
- Potential pushback from immigration purists, critics calling it a “golden-visa grift” or a “favor to the wealthy,” and from Congress.
Domestic and Global Reaction
- Mixed reception: Supporters praise economic benefits; critics condemn it as elitist and possibly corrupt .
- Concerns include:
- Housing inflation, especially in urban real estate markets.
- Security risks, particularly over granting citizenship to individuals from adversarial nations.
- Internationally, Trump pitches it as a global offering—backed by “government-branded” site trumpcard.gov.
What Happens Next?
- Currently, only a waitlist is open; no applications, vetting guidelines, or issuance details have been released.
- Official launch, vetting processes, tax frameworks, and eligibility rules remain undefined.
- Congress may weigh in. Meanwhile, ICE enforcement directives signal a hardline immigration stance in parallel with the card’s launch.
Summary
| Feature | Trump Gold Card |
|---|---|
| Cost | $5,000,000 |
| Residency | Permanent, with path to citizenship |
| Investment requirement | No job creation mandate |
| Tax benefit | No tax on offshore income |
| Status | Waitlist open, no formal applications yet |
| Legal challenge | Requires Congressional authorization |
| Sign‑ups | ~70,000 waitlisted pre‑launch |
Final Take
Trump’s Gold Card program, relaunched in June 2025, marks one of the boldest immigration-for-investment schemes yet—a $5 million pathway aimed at earning both revenue and political impact. But major hurdles—including legal validity, legislative approval, and public backlash—remain ahead.
What happens next hinges on:
- Whether Congress acts, votes or delays.
- How settled the legal debates around parole vs. legislative authority are resolved.
- The rollout of program specifics and issuance mechanics once the waitlist closes.
For now, tens of thousands of wealthy individuals are queuing up—transforming Trump’s Gold Card into a high-stakes gamble on America’s immigration future.
MORE COVERAGE & UPDATES: Trump Administration | Donald Trump
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