Trump Bets Big on India with Gold Card, Will It Work?

Trump Gold US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that the Trump Gold Card, a new pathway to US permanent residency requiring $5million, will be popular among wealthy Indian nationals, seeking to contribute to the American economy, even as Indian students are being deported and visa rules tightened further.

Lutnick was speaking at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USIPF) Leadership Summit 2025. Terming the programme an enormous opportunity, Lutnick said it was a transformation in the US immigration policy.

US President Donald Trump announced the Trump Gold Card in February 2025. It is designed as a replacement for the existing EB-5 programme, allowing wealthy foreign nationals to gain US citizenship by investing $5 million. The programme targets high networth individuals and attract global entrepreneurs, who want to live in the US and contribute to its economy.

Lutnick indicated that India would be the key launch market for the programme. He described the initiative as a gateway for global entrepreneurs and said they can become like green card holders by owning the Trump Gold Card. “You can choose to pay global tax or remain taxed only on your US assets, with no inheritance tax or global tax obligations.”

This is called international entrepreneur and it is a special category, he said, hoping that it would be incredibly successful amongst the great people of India who want to participate in the programme and have the means to participate in American economy. America wants to bring advanced manufacturing back to the US. We want to bring back domestic manufacturing and reshoring in America, he said. There will be a trade deal that says certain kinds of industries would be great for India to manufacture and produce and India will also a better tariff relationship than most other countries in the world.

Replying to a query on whether he sees opportunities for collaboration between India and the US in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and other emerging technologies, Lutnick said that they want to embrace US allies and friends in a way that is much more open than the Biden administration.