By Ayomde Otitoju
Despite not being officially available, nearly 70,000 individuals have already registered interest in the proposed U.S. residency programme known as the “Trump Card,” which offers permanent residency in exchange for a $5 million investment.
The initiative, backed by former U.S. President Donald Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, is still in development. However, the launch of a waitlist on the government-linked website TrumpCard.gov has sparked significant global interest.
Marketed as a premium alternative to the traditional Green Card, the Trump Card promises legal U.S. residency—though not immediate citizenship—and is being promoted as an elite, gold-plated status symbol. The proposed design is said to feature Trump’s image, his signature, the American flag, and the Statue of Liberty.
Commerce Secretary Lutnick, who has been actively promoting the initiative abroad, revealed that the idea originated from billionaire investor and Trump donor John Paulson. The programme is being positioned as a tool to attract wealthy global investors and generate revenue to help address the U.S.’s $36 trillion national debt. Lutnick projects that the issuance of 200,000 Trump Cards could potentially raise $1 trillion.
While many program details remain undecided—including tax implications, eligibility restrictions by nationality, and vetting procedures—the website currently allows individuals and corporations to join the waitlist by submitting their names, emails, and visa categories. Group applications are also permitted.
Trump, celebrating the public response on his social media platform Truth Social, wrote: “Thousands have been calling and asking how they can sign up to ride a beautiful road in gaining access to the Greatest Country and Market anywhere in the World.”
Although the programme does not yet offer a path to citizenship, Trump has hinted that such a provision could be introduced in the future. For now, the initiative continues to attract considerable attention globally, even ahead of its formal rollout.
