Trump and the ‘Gold Card’: paid citizenship, a new market for the rich

The president revolutionises immigration rules by targeting the wealthy, offering a ‘luxury’ route to citizenship with the new Gold Card

Donald Trump never ceases to amaze and, this time, he seems to want to bend the rules even more. The White House, which under his leadership has turned into a reality show stage, could now become the entry point for a new form of immigration: ‘luxury’ immigration. The president has announced the introduction of a new ‘Gold Card’, a pass that he says will give the world’s rich the chance to enter the US and, in practice, obtain citizenship.

With a $5 million investment, anyone will be able to ‘buy’ the right to live and work in the United States, an offer that seems aimed at those with hefty wallets rather than those dreaming of the American Dream. ‘The rich will create jobs and contribute to the tax system,’ Trump says, making immigration a real marketplace for those who can afford it. According to him, the proposal could bring trillions into American coffers and attract top-tier investors.

The ‘Gold Card’ is a step that, at least in the president’s intentions, represents a radical shift in American immigration policy, abandoning the tradition of welcoming people to focus on an elitisation of entry into the country. And while Trump jokes about the possibility that Russian oligarchs could also benefit from the card, the move makes one reflect on the direction the White House is taking: from a place of democratic representation to a veritable ‘bank’ for privileged entry into the country.

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(Photo: © AndKronos)