Rubio's claim that citizenship isn’t for sale clashes with Trump’s gold-card program

In a social-media message, Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that U.S. citizenship is not a commodity, igniting a wave of criticism that cited the Trump administration’s gold-card program, which sells residency to foreign investors for $1 million and corporate-sponsored employees for $2 million. Observers pointed out the contradiction between Rubio’s claim and the policy, noting that the administration boasted $1.3 billion in applications yet had approved only a single card and recorded just 165 non-refundable filing fees.

Critics also referenced a forthcoming $5 million platinum card that would allow extensive residency but requires a change to the tax code. Figures such as Ben Pauker and groups like Republicans Against Trump and the Lincoln Project amplified the criticism, labeling the initiative as evidence that the government serves the wealthy. The episode underscores the gap between the administration’s promotional rhetoric and the program’s limited uptake.