<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>When </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/donald-trump" rel="" target="" title="Donald Trump"><span>Donald Trump</span></a><span> launched his </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/trump-gold-card-immigration-program-goes-live/c873357e-b8bd-4f03-b28e-1b6b5a6d265b" rel="" target="" title='much-vaunted "gold card" pathway to citizenship program'><span>much-vaunted "gold card" pathway to citizenship program</span></a><span>, his Commerce Secretary said they had sold 1300 of them in several days.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But months later and testifying under oath, the same secretary has admitted just one person has bought a gold card.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The president and his cabinet had been touting the program, in which a foreigner can be granted residency </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/usa" rel="" target="" title="to the US"><span>to the US</span></a><span> if they pay $US1 million (A$1.4 million).</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/truth-social-donald-trump-devin-nunes-massive-losses-bitcoin-investment-usa-news/57ce532d-4fda-4354-b3db-9673a1ead2bc"><strong><span>CEO of Trump's media company ousted after losing billions</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/ghislaine-maxwell-donald-trump-clemency-testimony-congress-howard-lutnick-usa-politics-news/d2e0f01b-45e5-48b4-a22e-4b832c8dc95f" rel="" target="" title="Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick"><span>Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick</span></a><span> said the program could raise $1 trillion in revenue for the government.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>For that optimistic target to be reached, a million millionaires would need to buy one.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Now Lutnick has admitted just one person has received a gold card.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-gold-card-nicki-minaj-one-person-bought-visa-usa-news/33b13cad-672e-432f-bc35-9f71d00a0324" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There are hundreds in the queue that they are going through," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The disappointing result has drawn the mockery of elected Democrats.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Trump promised his 'Gold Card' program would bring in over a billion dollars for the US," California Representative Jimmy Gomez said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It didn't even come close. Here's just how badly it fell short."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The recipient of the only gold card so far has not been identified.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-election-redistricting-gerrymandering-plan-backfires-virginia-congressional-race-referendum-results/efd3d84b-11a5-4cd7-b2f9-55d802facccd"><strong><span>Donald Trump's bid to secure power for his party just backfired big time</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The president had presented </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/nicki-minaj-surprises-conservatives-with-praise-for-trump-vance-at-arizona-event/4d5e1542-6593-4a54-b2a9-318b701ba4d6" rel="" target="" title="Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj"><span>Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj</span></a><span> with a gold card earlier this year, but she said she had not paid for it.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Minaj is a permanent resident of the US and said she was finalising her citizenship paperwork in January. She came to the US as an illegal immigrant as a five-year-old.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Applicants also need to pay a $US15,000 ($A20,000) processing fee and pass a background test.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A corporate gold card would allow businesses to bring in foreign employees for a $US2 million contribution.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The White House has also proposed a "Trump Platinum Card".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/ghislaine-maxwell-pardon-donald-trump-clemency-jeffrey-epstein-usa-news/8372ac2a-a009-40d6-b287-edb89e010d27" target="" title="'Outrageous': Push in Congress for Ghislaine Maxwell to be pardoned"><strong><span>'Outrageous': Push in Congress for Ghislaine Maxwell to be pardoned</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Foreign nationals who make a $US5 million contribution will have the capacity to spend 270 days in the US without being subject to any American taxes on non-American income.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australia previously had a "golden visa" for high-income investors looking to move here.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Significant Investor Visa required applicants to spend a minimum of $5 million in investments in Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The visa was axed in 2024.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-ballroom-politicians-east-wing-whca-dinner-shooting-updates/9b908390-8d69-45c4-a4b8-1e8881be0053"><strong><span>Major boost to Donald Trump's grand ballroom ambitions</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span></span></div></div>