President Trump says U.S. can pay off $36 trillion debt by selling wealthy immigrants ‘gold card’ visas worth $5 million to get citizenship

President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in the East Room at the White House on February 24, 2025 in Washington, DC. Macron is meeting with Trump in Washington on the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale military invasion of Ukraine. (Credit: Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images)

• President Trump announced a new “gold card” immigration plan, allowing wealthy individuals to buy U.S. residency and a pathway to citizenship for $5 million, with hopes of using the revenue to pay off America’s $36 trillion national debt. The plan, which would replace the EB-5 visa program, aims to attract high-net-worth individuals and companies while offering tax benefits, though details are slim.

President Donald Trump believes he can pay off America’s $36 trillion national debt by charging rich immigrants $5 million for a gold card—which has green card privileges “plus a route to citizenship.”