US President Donald Trump has officially unveiled his long-anticipated “Gold Card” visa, a premium immigration program aimed at attracting high-net-worth individuals. Speaking to reporters mid-flight, the 78-year-old Republican held up a sleek prototype of the card and declared, “For $5 million, this could be yours.”
The visa, set to launch within the next two weeks, will offer permanent U.S. residency and a path to citizenship for foreign investors willing to pay the $5 million price tag. Described as a luxury equivalent of the traditional green card, Trump said the initiative targets “high-level people” who plan to “create jobs” in the United States.
“It’s going to sell like crazy,” Trump added. “It’s a bargain.”
Originally proposed during a cabinet meeting in February, the Gold Card is part of Trump’s broader plan to reshape U.S. immigration by prioritizing wealth and investment over need or family reunification. He previously suggested that the revenue generated from these premium visas could help reduce the national debt.
The announcement comes amid rising trade tensions after Trump slapped new tariffs on several countries. The UK now faces a 10% tariff on all exports to the U.S. and a 25% charge on British-made cars. China and the European Union were hit even harder, with Beijing responding swiftly by announcing a retaliatory 34% levy on American goods, effective April 10.
In contrast, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has taken a more measured stance, ruling out immediate retaliatory tariffs. “A trade war is bad for working people and bad for our businesses,” he said during the launch of Labour’s local election campaign. “It is better if we’re able to negotiate a better outcome — and that’s what we are attempting to do.”
As geopolitical tensions simmer, Trump’s Gold Card could become both a symbol of American opportunity and a lightning rod for debate on wealth-based immigration.
