Donald Trump reveals if Russian oligarchs would be eligible to apply for ‘gold card’

On February 25, Donald Tump unveiled his "gold card," a scheme to attract "people of wealth" to the US.

Published on: Feb 26, 2025, 08:30:50 IST

By Sumanti Sen

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President Donald Trump has said that Russian oligarchs would be eligible to apply for the "gold card," which is a $5 million path to US residency and citizenship. On February 25, while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump unveiled his "gold card," a scheme to attract "people of wealth" to the US.

Donald Trump reveals if Russian oligarchs would be eligible to apply for ‘gold card’ (Photographer: Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg) (Bloomberg)

"We're going to be putting a price on that card of about $5 million and that's going to give you green card privileges, plus it's going to be a route to citizenship," the president said.

‘I know some Russian oligarchs that are very nice people’

Trump stressed that people who apply for the card would be vetted heavily. However, he did not name any country that would be restricted from the programme. On being asked if Russian oligarchs would be eligible for the gold card, the president said they could apply.

"Yeah, possibly. Hey, I know some Russian oligarchs that are very nice people," Trump said. He added that Russian oligarchs are "not quite as wealthy as they used to be," which may have been a reference to Western sanctions. He had no objections to the idea of such people applying for the gold card.

"I think they can afford $5 million," Trump said.

Previously, the Trump administration had taken measures to soften Washington's stance against Russian elites. It had shut down a government task force that sanctioned Kremlin-linked oligarchs. The White House has also cracked down on immigration and suspended several programmes that allowed migrants to enter the country, including an initiative for Ukrainians that former president Joe Biden had established.

Notably, Trump has, in recent days, made friendly overtures to Moscow. He spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin and even arranged direct talks between US and Russian officials without Ukraine's participation. He also said he has no objections to striking a deal with Russia regarding rare earth deposits.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sumanti Sen
Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More

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