Only One Approved for Trump's $1M 'Gold Card' Visa
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said one gold card visa has been approved since applications opened in December, with hundreds reportedly in the queue and a $1.3 billion sales claim after launch.
ABC NewsTrump's 'gold card' visa starting at $1 million granted to just 1 person so far, White House says
Washington TimesTrump’s ‘gold card’ visa starting at $1 million granted to just 1 person so far, Lutnick says
CBS NewsOnly one Trump "gold card" visa has been approved so far, Commerce's Lutnick says
MEDIAiteHoward Lutnick Admits Under Oath That He’s Only Sold One Trump ‘Gold Card’ Visa for $1M — After Claiming On a Podcast He’d Sold 1,000 of Them
Overview
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Thursday that one 'gold card' visa has been approved since applications opened in December.
The program allows foreigners to pay a $1 million donation for U.S. residency and is intended to replace the EB-5 investor visa program, Lutnick said.
Lutnick said the Department of Homeland Security recently finalized the application process and that 'hundreds' of applicants remain in the queue.
He said the government sold $1.3 billion 'worth' of the program soon after launch, that it could raise $1 trillion, and that applicants pay a $15,000 processing fee.
Lutnick said allocation of proceeds 'will be determined by the administration,' and the program's website promotes a $5 million 'Platinum' card offering up to 270 days tax-free on non-U.S. income.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story skeptically, using vivid, evaluative descriptors (e.g., 'gilded ticket,' 'glitzy website') and juxtaposing Lutnick's optimistic sales claims with official approval numbers and federal debt projections. They prioritize discrepancies and visual detail while giving limited unchallenged space to proponents, creating a narrative of hype versus reality.