Source: Fortune
Summary
President Trump’s administration has proposed various methods to help reduce the national debt, including a “gold card” visa program that would charge rich immigrants $5 million for a card with green card immigration privileges and a route to citizenship. The program has been slow to take off, with only one person approved so far. Meanwhile, tariffs have proven to be a significant revenue stream, with an estimated $214.7 billion in inflation-adjusted customs revenue above the 2022-2024 average. However, the use of tariff proceeds remains a question, with the president previously suggesting that some of the funds would be used to pay out rebate checks to citizens.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story. The Trump administration’s gold card visa program has been slow to take off, with only one person approved so far. Meanwhile, tariffs have proven to be a significant revenue stream. The administration’s plan to use tariff proceeds to pay out rebate checks to citizens raises questions about the effectiveness of the program in reducing the national debt. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget has highlighted that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will add $4.2 trillion to the national debt through Fiscal Year 2034. The use of tariff proceeds remains a question, with the president’s previous suggestions about rebate checks conflicting with the need to reduce the national debt.
The gold card visa program’s reliance on attracting wealthy immigrants who can afford the $5 million price tag raises questions about its feasibility. The Knight Frank Wealth Report for 2026 shows that the majority of ultra-high net worth individuals are already living in the US, making it unlikely that the program will attract many new immigrants.
Author: Evan Null
