Key Point Summary – Trump gold card visa program

• 67,697 signups confirmed for the $5M Trump gold card
• Investors granted legal U.S. residency for the high entry fee
• Trump aims to replace the EB-5 visa with this luxe alternative
• Commerce Secretary Lutnick promises a card “made of gold”
• Trumpcard.gov site opened for global interest and registration
• Billionaires and CEOs are reportedly lining up for blocks of cards
• Trump claims it could raise trillions and pay down national debt

70,000 Register for Trump’s Controversial Gold Visa

President Donald Trump’s $5 million “gold card” visa is drawing major international interest—and sparking fierce political debate.

According to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, nearly 70,000 people have already signed up to express interest in the luxury-tier visa, which offers U.S. residency in exchange for massive foreign investment.

“The card will be made of gold,” Lutnick told the Financial Times. “It will be beautiful. Donald Trump appreciates these kinds of things.”

Foreign Investment Floodgates Open

The new Trump gold card visa program was designed to replace the existing EB-5 visa structure, which required a $1.8 million investment. Trump’s bold alternative raises the bar—requiring $5 million upfront from applicants hoping to live in the U.S.

As of Monday morning, 67,697 people had registered on the Commerce Department’s official site, trumpcard.gov, with numbers rapidly climbing past 68,000 within the hour.

If approved, this could bring in more than $345 billion in foreign capital.

Trump Says It’s a Debt Solution

Trump has repeatedly framed the initiative as an economic win-win. Speaking to Cabinet in February, he declared: “If we sell a million, that’s $5 trillion.”

He claims the visa program will help reduce the $36.2 trillion national debt while simultaneously attracting top-tier talent—engineers, entrepreneurs, and scientists from around the globe.

Donor John Paulson is credited with proposing the idea as a creative revenue stream.

Who Wants the Golden Ticket?

The tech world is reportedly paying close attention. One unnamed global tech CEO told the Financial Times his group plans to buy over 100 cards if the program materializes.

“It’s a way to welcome the world’s best and brightest,” he said through a spokesperson.

Even Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino, an Italian billionaire, chimed in on the initiative in April. He noted that tax treatment would make or break the program’s success.

Key Questions Still Unanswered

Though registration is booming, the actual structure of the program remains under development.

There’s no final decision yet on:

• Whether some countries will be excluded
• How the U.S. will vet applicants
• What tax policies will apply to cardholders

Vettings are expected to involve the Departments of Commerce, State, and Homeland Security, though no public criteria have been officially released.

Critics warn that the policy could invite abuse or increase inequality, but Trump allies argue it’s simply smart business.

Public Reaction Split

Supporters say it’s a genius way to leverage America’s appeal for cash while skipping bureaucratic red tape.

But detractors see it as the ultimate pay-to-play move, allowing the ultra-rich to skip ahead in a system millions struggle to access through conventional immigration.

“It’s a platinum pass to America—for the right price,” one immigration watchdog wrote. “Meanwhile, thousands wait years in backlogged visa lines.”

The Trumpcard.gov Boom

At the heart of the operation is the newly launched trumpcard.gov portal, which went live last week.

The site invites users to submit basic information—name, email, region—and register interest. It does not guarantee a visa.

What it does, however, is feed data back to the Commerce Department’s dashboard, which Trump allies are monitoring closely to gauge momentum.

What’s Next For Trump’s Gold Dream?

The Trump gold card visa program is now one of the highest-profile immigration proposals in his second term—and potentially one of the most lucrative.

But major questions loom over implementation, fairness, and foreign policy ramifications.

Still, for now, the global elite seem eager to buy into the American dream—Trump-style.