VERDICT: TRUE
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced the exact number on April 23, 2026. He confirmed that the Trump administration has approved only one applicant so far for the $1 million Gold Card visa program.
The program started accepting applications in December 2025. It gives wealthy foreigners a fast path to U.S. residency. Applicants pay $1 million plus a $15,000 processing fee. They must also pass tough background checks and national security reviews.
Clarifications
Hundreds of people have already submitted applications. Officials say the single approval shows the strict vetting process works. They check every applicant carefully to avoid risks. The approved person remains unnamed for privacy and security reasons.
President Trump supports the Gold Card. He calls it a smart way to bring in rich investors who help the economy. Critics claim the program only helps the super-wealthy. Supporters reply that it improves on older investor visas that had many problems.
Far below initial projections
A year ago, Lutnick had claimed the gold card would raise $1 trillion in revenue and help “balance the budget,” and after launch said the government had sold $1.3 billion “worth” in just several days. The single approval falls dramatically short of those figures.
A “Platinum Card” is also in the works
The government website touts an upcoming $5 million “Trump Platinum Card,” which offers up to 270 days in America without being taxed on non-U.S. income.
So: The claim is accurate – Lutnick confirmed just one Gold Card approval since December 2025, though hundreds of applications remain under review, a result far below the administration’s original trillion-dollar revenue projections.
