Trump unveils $1 million ‘Trump Gold Card’ for U.S. residency, with Platinum card planned

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Friday announced the “Trump Gold Card,” a purchasable path to rapid U.S. residency for both individuals and corporations, with an initial price tag of $1 million for individuals and $2 million for corporate entrants, according to rollout materials and remarks from the White House.

Trump appeared in the Oval Office alongside Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, flanked by posters depicting the gilded card and the familiar anchors of his administration. In a post on Truth Social, the former president framed the program as a remedy to what he described as a broken immigration system, arguing that American taxpayers should benefit from a legal immigration framework.

According to the official site, applicants would submit documents and pay a nonrefundable processing fee, triggering an accelerated review by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. If approved, cardholders would receive lawful permanent resident status as either EB-1 or EB-2 visa holders, with the card functioning as a visa valid for use across the 50 states and territories. Officials emphasized that the program would include in-depth background checks and vetting as part of an expedited path to residency. Trump asserted on the platform that the initiative would generate substantial revenue and fund domestic priorities, stating that the plan could help reduce taxes and support pro-growth projects and debt reduction.

The rollout described the Trump Gold Card as a visa that can be revoked if national security or other risks arise. The administration also outlined a broader concept: a Trump Platinum Card, which would allow individual applicants to reside in the United States for up to 270 days per year and would not tax non‑U.S. income. The Platinum Card is not yet released; the site advises interested parties to join a waitlist, noting that issuances would be processed on a first-come, first-served basis and would eventually replace standard travel visas for eligible entrants.

The notes accompanying the rollout also referenced a separate policy line: foreign travelers would soon be subject to a new “visa integrity fee” of $250 to visit the United States. The introduction of any such fee has not been independently verified by government agencies in these materials, and no additional details were provided in the public-facing summary.

In promoting the plan, Trump claimed that the Gold Card framework would bring in “well over $100 billion dollars very quickly” and that the proceeds would be directed toward tax relief, growth initiatives, and debt reduction. The messaging casts the program as part of a broader push to restructure immigration policy around a wealth-based residency model, a concept that would require careful scrutiny from lawmakers and immigration experts.

Critics and immigration scholars have not had an official government endorsement to date, and no federal agency has announced implementing regulations tied to a program of this nature. The White House materials and the Trump campaign disclosures describe the program in aspirational terms, while the broader legal and constitutional implications would likely be the subject of swift legal and policy review if pursued beyond the initial announcements.

The event coincided with a broader political moment in which Trump and his aides have periodically revived discussions of immigration policy and residency frameworks as a centerpiece of a broader economic and national security narrative. The appearance and accompanying materials underscore the ongoing interest in rapidly scalable immigration mechanisms, even as questions persist about implementation, oversight, and consequences for existing visa programs and labor markets.

Images related to the rollout circulated in media coverage, showing Trump with aides and visuals of the Card as part of campaign-style branding. The images illustrate a literal, gilded symbol being introduced into a policy discussion, but they do not constitute a government program or policy commitment beyond the announced rollout materials.

As the details circulate, lawmakers, immigration advocates, and analysts will likely seek clarifications on eligibility, security vetting, potential conflicts with existing visa categories, and how this framework would interact with labor markets and international travel norms. Analysts will also be watching for how any proposed visa changes would interact with current U.S. immigration law and whether Congress would authorize such a program or its financing mechanisms.

The initiative, as outlined in the notes, centers on a high-cost, high-access model for residency tied to an accelerated review and a vision of revenue that could be redirected toward domestic priorities. Whether this approach could advance through legislative and regulatory channels remains uncertain, and observers will no doubt scrutinize the practical, legal, and ethical dimensions of a residency program tied to substantial financial thresholds.

Additional reporting and official guidance would be required to determine whether any portion of this plan advances beyond marketing materials and campaign-era proposals, and to assess the potential impact on individuals seeking lawful permanent residence under traditional visa classifications. For now, the Trump Gold Card remains a high-profile element of a broader conversation about immigration policy, residency, and the role of wealth in access to U.S. status.