The Secret Card to US Citizenship
Trump Goldcard:
The Trump Gold Card: A New Visa Program with a $5 Million Price Tag
For the second time in recent weeks, Donald Trump has hinted at the imminent arrival of his highly anticipated “Trump GoldCard,” a new visa program that promises to bring in millions of wealthy foreigners willing to pay top dollar for American residency and a potential path to citizenship. The promise is simple: $5 million upfront payment, and a coveted spot among the most elite Americans.
But what exactly does this gold-plated visa entail? According to patchy details announced by the administration, the program aims to grant permanent US residency and a “potential path” to citizenship for wealthy foreigners willing to part with a cool $5 million. Unlike the existing EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which requires investments in job-creating businesses, the Gold Card appears to involve a straightforward payment without any specific job creation requirements.
Trump’s loyal followers seem resentful of this approach, viewing it as crass and elitist. Others, however, are fantasizing about millions of foreigners paying off America’s mounting debt and creating a surplus. The math seems enticing: if just 1 million foreigners pay $5 million each, that’s a staggering $5 trillion – enough to help pay down the country’s debt, which now stands at $36 trillion.
But is this pie-in-the-sky scenario more realistic than meets the eye? Experts estimate that only 20,000-30,000 non-American centimillionaires globally could afford the $5 million fee, far below the 1 million targeted by Trump. And what about the logistical and legislative hurdles to get such a program off the ground? US lawmakers are waiting with bated breath for Congress to weigh in on this new visa category, which requires congressional legislation – power reserved for Congress under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
The real question is: can America afford to sell its citizenship to the highest bidder? With no ceiling on the so-called Gold Card program, unlike the existing EB-5 program with a ceiling of 10,000 visas annually, Trump’s promise seems more like a publicity stunt than a genuine attempt to address America’s economic woes. As lawmakers and experts alike dig deeper into this proposed program, one thing is certain: only time will tell if the Trump Gold Card is more than just a hollow promise.
In conclusion, while the idea of attracting wealthy foreigners with a $5 million price tag may seem like a tempting solution to America’s debt problems, it raises more questions than answers. As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: the fate of the Trump Gold Card program hangs precariously in the balance, and only time will reveal whether this latest gambit by Trump will pay off or prove to be another failed experiment in his bid for power.
