It seems Donald Trump’s ambitious “bargain” $1 million Gold Card initiative, designed to offer a fast track to American residency for wealthy investors, has fallen spectacularly short of expectations, with a mere 338 applications received. This low uptake suggests a significant miscalculation on Trump’s part, as the program, intended to inject substantial funds into the U.S. economy, has apparently yielded a fraction of what was hoped for. The idea was to attract significant capital, potentially billions, but the reality is that it has brought in a mere fraction of that amount, leading many to question the efficacy and appeal of such a scheme.… Continue reading
New Zealand’s revamped “golden visa” program, the Active Investor Plus visa, has seen a significant surge in applications since its April 2025 inception, particularly from wealthy Americans seeking natural beauty and an entrepreneurial environment, with some explicitly citing a desire to escape the political climate of the United States. These updated regulations, which lowered investment thresholds and eased residency requirements, have attracted 573 applications, a notable increase from previous iterations of the visa. American investors now constitute nearly 40% of applicants, followed by those from China and Hong Kong, with the visa generating substantial investment in the country. While previous policies have restricted foreign home ownership, the current scheme allows successful applicants to purchase properties exceeding $5 million, aiming to bolster New Zealand’s economy through international investment.
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Matt Underwood 
John Q. Hosedrinker