Trump Proposes $5 Million “Gold Card” Citizenship—Even for Russian Oligarchs
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump floated a controversial new idea on Tuesday in the Oval Office, proposing a program that would allow wealthy foreigners to buy U.S. citizenship for $5 million.
“We’re gonna be selling a gold card,” Trump announced. “You have a green card, this is a gold card. We’re gonna put a price on that card of about $5 million, and that’s going to give you green card privileges, plus. It’s gonna be a route to citizenship, and wealthy people will be coming into our country.”
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A New Take on the EB-5 Visa?
The U.S. already has a similar program known as the EB-5 visa, which allows foreign investors to apply for residency if they invest a minimum of $800,000 in projects that create jobs for Americans. However, Trump’s “Gold Card” plan appears to go further, potentially removing restrictions on who qualifies for the fast-track citizenship scheme.
When asked whether Russian oligarchs could take advantage of the proposal, Trump did not dismiss the idea. “Yeah, possibly. Hey. I know some Russian oligarchs that are very nice people,” he said.
Social Media Backlash
The proposal quickly sparked outrage on social media, with critics calling it a “pay-to-play” scheme that could allow corrupt foreign elites to buy their way into American citizenship. Oleksiy Sorokin, a journalist with the Kyiv Independent, blasted the idea, tweeting: “Give $5 million and become a U.S. citizen even if you’re a Russian oligarch. Banana republic vibes.”
Michael Weiss, editor at the Russia-focused The Insider, took an even sharper tone: “We are ruled by a strange consortium of rubes with Ivy League degrees and outer borough mooks with offshore accounts. It’s like an early Bellow novel on hallucinogens.”
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Other political commentators ridiculed the plan.
“The grift goes on. The USA is now QVC,” wrote The Tennessee Holler, a progressive news outlet. Fred Wellman, a political strategist, added: “More for the rich.” University of Virginia professor T. Kenny Fountain mocked the proposal, saying: “Now we’re going to sell citizenship to the highest bidder like it is membership to some resort. Give me your wealthy, your faux-finished, your yacht-class high spenders.”
A Political Lightning Rod
Trump’s “Gold Card” citizenship plan is expected to face fierce scrutiny from both Democrats and Republicans, particularly those who have previously argued against fast-tracking immigration. With no clear details on eligibility restrictions, national security experts warn that such a program could open the door to foreign influence and potential corruption. As criticism mounts, it remains to be seen whether Trump will formally introduce the proposal—or if it will be shelved amid political backlash.
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