An image of the landing page on the government-run website where people can now purchase the new "Trump Gold Card" in order to become a lawful resident in the United States. (Trumpcard.gov)
"Obviously, they have to be perfect people in America and having passed the vetting after five years they'll be available to become citizens. And then the corporation can put someone else on the card. So, for a company that can keep putting people on the card, one person per card, and for an individual, it's $1 million and it's a gift to the United States of America to the to help America be great again under Donald Trump."
Trump followed up, saying "it's really two gifts," noting that not only will it bring "billions" in revenue to the United States, but it will also help the country retain "some tremendous people" that would otherwise be forced to leave the United States.
Just the $15,000 vetting cost of the "Trump Gold Card" for individuals dwarfs the typical application and administrative fees they typically have to cover when applying for a visa or green card.
DETAINED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WILL FACE $5K 'APPREHENSION FEE': BORDER PATROL CHIEF
For most temporary visas, the State Department's fees are typically a couple of hundred dollars, with potentially a few extra hundred dollars in fees owed to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) depending upon the person and the type of visa needed. Meanwhile, green cards typically require a couple of thousands of dollars, sometimes as much as $3,000, according to the State Department's fee schedule.
Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, during a news conference outside the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, June 5, 2025 (Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
At the same time, Trump allies have praised the program.
"This landmark program fulfills President Trump’s promise to attract the world’s most successful entrepreneurs and investors to America while guaranteeing they have skin in the game," Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said of the new program. "The Department of Homeland Security is working closely with the Department of Commerce to facilitate the rollout of President Trump’s Gold Card program."
The White House did not return Fox News Digital's request for comment in time for publication.
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