February 26, 2025: US President Donald Trump has announced a new initiative to grant green-card residency and a pathway to citizenship to wealthy immigrants willing to pay $5 million for a so-called "gold card."

Speaking to reporters, Trump predicted that one million of these cards could be sold, generating substantial revenue that he claims would help pay down the national debt. The proposed scheme would replace the existing EB-5 immigrant investor visa program, which grants green cards to foreign investors who create or preserve US jobs.

"We are going to be selling a gold card," Trump said. "We are going to be putting a price on that card of about $5 million. It's going to give you green card privileges plus a route to American citizenship."

Trump stated that more details about the program would be released in the coming weeks. When asked whether Russian oligarchs would be eligible to participate, he responded, "Yeah, possibly. Hey, I know some Russian oligarchs that are very nice people."

The announcement has sparked debate, with critics questioning the ethics of allowing citizenship to be effectively purchased and whether such a policy aligns with the values of the US immigration system. Supporters argue that the program could boost economic growth and attract high-net-worth individuals to the country.

Further details on the proposed "gold card" system are expected to be unveiled in the next two weeks.