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Trump Unveils First $5M 'Gold Card' Visa
Above: Donald Trump holds the $5 million dollar Gold Card on board Air Force One on April 3, 2025. Image copyright: Mandel Ngan/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
The Gold Card program is a strategic solution to address the national debt, attract wealthy job creators to America, and bring successful individuals who will invest substantially in the U.S. economy. The program's immediate success highlights strong market demand and potential economic benefits.
Democratic narrative
The timing of the Gold Card show-off highlights a disconnect from average Americans' economic struggles. The program effectively monetizes U.S. residency, creates an unfair two-tiered immigration system that favors the ultra-wealthy, ignores traditional merit-based principles, and risks turning American citizenship into a commodity for sale.