Washington, Dec 11 (LatestNewsX) – President Donald Trump unveiled a new “Trump Gold Card” initiative aimed at keeping top graduates of U.S. universities—including thousands from India—on American payrolls, claiming the existing visa framework was “ridiculous” and driving skilled talent abroad.
During a White‑House roundtable with leading tech CEOs, Trump explained that the plan would give companies “certainty” when hiring highly trained international students who often face years of immigration delays even after finishing at the top of their classes. “If you finish first in college, there’s no guarantee you can stay in the country,” he said, noting that many have to return to India, China, or France.
Calling the current system “a shame,” Trump said the Gold Card would remove a major hurdle for U.S. firms competing worldwide for science and engineering talent. He added that complaints from CEOs—particularly Apple’s Tim Cook—prompted the change. “No one talked to me more about it than Tim Cook. He said it was a real problem,” Trump recalled.
Howard Lutnick, introduced to describe the program, said individuals could pay $1 million for a Gold Card, while corporations could purchase one for $2 million. For companies, the card would allow them to retain staff after an extensive vetting process—“the best vetting the government has ever done.” The vetting would cost $15 000 and confirm the candidate “absolutely qualifies to be an American.”
Once approved, the employee would have a path to citizenship after five years, Lutnick added. Companies could then “put someone else on the card,” creating a cycle of long‑term, employment‑linked residency. “It’s a gift to the United States… to help America be great again under Donald Trump,” he said.
Trump also highlighted the Treasury’s expected revenue boost, suggesting “billions of dollars” could be earned. He noted that firms had been sending employees to Canada and other countries because of U.S. visa uncertainty, and that the new program would make companies “very happy.”
The roundtable gathered high‑profile tech leaders—Michael Dell of Dell Technologies, Arvind Krishna of IBM, Cristiano Amon of Qualcomm, and executives from HP and Hewlett Packard Enterprise—while President Trump underscored the link between immigration reform, workforce stability, and U.S. dominance in technology.
He praised the CEOs for investments in U.S. manufacturing and AI, stating the country is “leading artificial intelligence by a lot” and emphasizing the administration’s intent to cut red tape and consolidate regulatory oversight. “Our administration is committed to total dominance in technology,” he asserted, “and we want to stay number one by a large margin.”
Although the CEOs did not directly discuss immigration policy, they emphasized the need for a reliable workforce and affordable energy to fuel significant semiconductor and AI investments. Dell remarked that AI and chip production “consume a great deal of power” and lauded the administration’s focus on lowering energy costs. Krishna called for strengthening the entire AI “stack,” from semiconductors and software to systems and applications.
The announcement of the Trump Gold Card represents one of the most substantial immigration changes for Indian students and skilled workers in over a decade. India remains the second‑largest source of foreign students in the United States and supplies the majority of H‑1B high‑skill visas, making this program particularly impactful for the Indian tech community.
Previous administrations, whether Republican or Democratic, have struggled to modernize employment‑based immigration pathways amid congressional gridlock. Major U.S. technology companies have long argued that unpredictable visa lotteries and numeric caps harm American competitiveness—an issue Trump’s Gold Card seeks to address by allowing companies to retain top foreign talent domestically.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
