‘American citizenship shouldn’t be on sale’: Author slams Trump’s $1 million Gold Card scheme; Sean Duffy responds

American journalist and TV host Batya Ungar‑Sargon criticised President Trump’s new “Gold Card” programme, saying she hates the idea that American citizenship could be bought by the "highest bidder.

:She claimed that US citizenship is “the most precious thing on Earth” and said it should not be for sale.Ungar‑Sargon shared that she had discussed the programme with US secretary of transportation Sean Duffy. During their conversation, she said that there is no need for the Gold Card programme and it's not worth the American citizenship: “So much of the President's deportation program is about raising wages for average Americans.

He just announced the ‘Trump Gold Card,’ where a person who can bring a million dollars to the country can be eligible for this. I have to say I hate this. I feel that American citizenship is the most precious thing on Earth and shouldn’t be on sale.

”In response, Duffy defended the POTUS's initiative, saying the President wants “the best and brightest” to come into the country. He explained that people who use American subsidies and assistance without investing in the economy are “draining the system.”

According to Duffy, the Gold Card programme will attract individuals who are likely to invest in the country, create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and raise salaries.Duffy also said that the Trump administration aims to maintain a balanced budget, using tools like tariffs or green card programmes, to avoid increasing the already large national debt.

However, Ungar‑Sargon and many in the MAGA base argue that citizenship should not be a commodity for the wealthy.

They believe programs like the Gold Card risk undermining the value of American citizenship and the fairness of the immigration system.The Trump Gold Card programme allows foreigners to pay $1 million plus a $15,000 processing fee after background checks to receive expedited lawful permanent residency, similar to a green card. Supporters say it will boost investment and the economy, while opponents warn it turns citizenship into a transaction for the rich. Conservatives also claim that the traditional H‑1B visas, which allow skilled workers to enter the US based on talent rather than wealth, provide a fairer path to permanent residency compared to the Gold Card scheme.