Trump Proposes $1 Million ‘Gold Card’ Visas Amid Pay-to-Play Concerns

The Trump administration has launched a controversial new immigration initiative called the “Trump Gold Card,” which allows individuals and businesses to secure legal entry into the United States through substantial financial contributions.

Under the program, unveiled Wednesday at a White House economic roundtable, individuals must pay a $15,000 vetting fee plus a $1 million “gift” to the United States. Corporations face an even steeper price of $2 million per person they sponsor.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who presented the program alongside President Trump, emphasized the rigorous vetting process that applicants will undergo. “The best vetting the government has ever done,” Lutnick stated, adding that successful applicants will have a path to citizenship after five years.

President Trump framed the initiative as a dual benefit for the nation. “It’s really two gifts,” Trump said, explaining that it would generate “billions” in revenue while allowing the U.S. to retain “some tremendous people” who might otherwise be forced to leave the country.

The costs associated with the Trump Gold Card dramatically exceed typical immigration fees. Standard temporary visas typically require a few hundred dollars in State Department fees, with potential additional payments to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Even permanent residency applications (green cards) generally cost around $3,000, according to the State Department’s fee schedule.

This stark contrast in pricing has fueled criticism that the administration is effectively monetizing the immigration system. The program represents a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy, creating what critics describe as a luxury fast-track for wealthy foreigners.

Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin has been particularly vocal in his opposition. “President Trump can’t help trying to act like a king,” Durbin said in September, prior to the program’s official launch. “He’s bringing that same ego-driven approach to our immigration system with an illegal pay-to-play scheme that undermines our values and rewards wealth over hard work, talent and a love for America.”

Durbin also raised security concerns about the program, suggesting it could become a pathway for “Russian oligarchs and cartel bosses” to gain entry to the United States. “We need a fair and orderly immigration system that preserves our safety and national security, attracts the best and brightest and maintains our status as a beacon of hope for the most vulnerable,” he added.

The introduction of the Gold Card program comes as the administration has simultaneously promised the “toughest border security in history,” creating what some see as a contradictory approach to immigration policy. While restricting general immigration, the new program explicitly creates a pathway for the wealthy to gain legal status.

Trump allies have defended the initiative. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem praised the program as a “landmark” that “fulfills President Trump’s promise to attract the world’s most successful entrepreneurs and investors to America while guaranteeing they have skin in the game.”

The initiative is being jointly implemented by the Departments of Homeland Security and Commerce. A website, TrumpCard.gov, has been launched where interested parties can begin the application process.

The Gold Card adds another layer to the ongoing national debate about immigration policy, wealth inequality, and what critics characterize as the commercialization of American citizenship. As applications begin processing, questions remain about how many individuals and corporations will take advantage of this new pathway and what long-term impact it might have on the broader U.S. immigration system.