Last year, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick boasted that he had sold at least 1,000 “Trump Gold Card” visas at $1 million to $5 million each, but on Thursday, while under oath, was forced to admit that only one had been sold, sparking widespread ridicule from critics.
“Every word out of Howard [Lutnick’s] mouth is a lie,” wrote political scientist and contributor to The Atlantic Norman Ornstein in a social media post on X. “What a despicable excuse for a human being.”
Lutnick was testifying Thursday before the House Appropriations Subcommittee, where he was pressed on other lies he’s told since joining the second Trump administration, including his claim that he had cut off all ties with Jeffrey Epstein in 2005, only to be revealed to have maintained contact with the disgraced financier through at least 2018.
Lutnick was also asked about the Trump Gold Card, a visa introduced by President Donald Trump that costs between $1 million and $5 million and grants its holders permanent resident status, as well as a pathway to full U.S. citizenship. In March, Lutnick claimed that 1,000 Trump Gold Cards were sold, and in June, claimed that around 70,000 people had signed up for the visa, per reporting from the Indian Express.
When pressed on the matter under oath, however, Lutnick provided a different number.
“So, they have approved recently one person, and there are hundreds in the queue that they are going through the process,” Lutnick said, per Mediaite’s reporting.
While Lutnick did not reveal who the purchaser was, the only public figure reported to be in possession of a Trump Gold Card is musician Nicki Minaj, who said that she received the card for free.
“So they are off by just 999,” wrote Fox Business contributor Gary Kaltbaum in a social media post on X.
“Lutnick…LIED,” wrote another, ex-GOP congressman Joe Walsh, in a social media post on X to his nearly 500,000 followers.You mean Lutnick…LIED. https://t.co/oSe5zXJJ4J
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) April 23, 2026