Trump’s $5 million “gold card” visa plan could erase U.S. national debt
By isabelle // 2025-02-26
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  • President Trump announced a $5 million "gold card" visa program to attract wealthy foreign investors and potentially eliminate the $35 trillion national debt.
  • The program replaces the EB-5 visa, criticized for fraud, with stricter oversight and higher investment requirements.
  • Trump claims the initiative will generate trillions in revenue, create jobs, and reduce taxes for U.S. citizens.
  • Over 100 countries have similar "golden visa" programs, and the U.S. aims to compete globally for high-net-worth individuals.
  • The program launches in two weeks, with thorough vetting to ensure applicants are "world-class global citizens."
In a move aimed at revitalizing the U.S. economy and addressing the nation’s staggering $35 trillion debt, President Donald Trump announced a proposal for a new “gold card” visa program on Tuesday. The initiative, which would offer wealthy foreign investors a path to citizenship for $5 million, could generate trillions in revenue, potentially eliminating the national deficit. Speaking at the White House, Trump framed the plan as a win-win for the U.S., attracting high-net-worth individuals who would invest in the economy, create jobs, and pay taxes. “They’ll be wealthy, they’ll be successful, and they’ll be spending a lot of money and paying a lot of taxes and employing a lot of people,” Trump said. “We think it’s going to be extremely successful.” The program, set to launch within two weeks, would replace the controversial EB-5 visa program, which has been criticized for its susceptibility to fraud and abuse.

Replacing a flawed system

The EB-5 program, established in 1990, was designed to stimulate the economy by granting green cards to foreign investors who invested at least $1 million in U.S. businesses, creating or preserving jobs. However, the program has been plagued by issues, including lax oversight and allegations of fraud. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who joined Trump at the announcement, called the EB-5 program “full of nonsense, make-believe, and fraud.” He emphasized that the new “gold card” would raise the bar for investors while streamlining the process. “It was a way to get a green card that was low price,” Lutnick said. “So the president said, rather than having this sort of ridiculous EB-5 program, we’re going to end the EB-5 program. We’re going to replace it with the Trump gold card.” The new program would offer permanent legal residency and a pathway to citizenship, with the $5 million price tag significantly higher than the EB-5’s minimum investment. Trump suggested that selling 10 million cards could generate $50 trillion, far exceeding the national debt.

A global trend with local benefits

The U.S. is not alone in offering such programs. More than 100 countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Spain, and Australia, have “golden visa” programs that grant residency or citizenship to wealthy investors. These initiatives have proven successful in attracting capital and talent, and Trump’s plan aims to position the U.S. as a top destination for global elites. The program would also benefit American workers, as wealthy investors are expected to create jobs and stimulate economic growth. Trump emphasized that the revenue generated would be earmarked for reducing the national deficit, potentially lowering taxes for U.S. citizens. Trump and his administration remain confident in the program’s potential. Lutnick assured reporters that applicants would undergo thorough vetting to ensure they are “wonderful, world-class global citizens.” Trump explained, “It’s somewhat like a green card, but at a higher level of sophistication, it’s a road to citizenship for people, and essentially people of wealth or people of great talent, where people of wealth pay for those people of talent to get in, meaning companies will pay for people to get in and to have long, long term status in the country.” As the U.S. prepares to roll out the program in the coming weeks, it will be interesting to see if this ambitious initiative lives up to its promise. Trump’s “gold card” could be a game-changer for the U.S. economy—and a golden opportunity for the nation’s future.   Sources for this article include: InfoWars.com Reuters.com FoxBusiness.com APNews.com
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