Exclusive: Trump "gold card" site launching within a week, Lutnick says

Catch up quick: Trump announced the gold card in late February, offering permanent U.S. residency to anyone who shelled out the $5 million fee.

• It was meant to replace the EB-5 investor visa, which gives out green cards in return for a much smaller investment in the U.S. economy.
• Other countries have tried similar so-called golden visa programs, but wound them down after limited interest.

What they're saying: Lutnick told Axios' Mike Allen the site, trumpcard.gov, would initially allow people to register their interest in buying one of the cards.

• "All that will come over a matter of the next weeks — not month, weeks," he said.

Between the lines: Lutnick positioned the card as a safety option that also helped the U.S. fund its growing debt obligations.

• "Everyone I meet who's not an American is going to want to buy the card if they have the fiscal capacity," he said.
• "This is for people who can help America pay off its debt. Why wouldn't you want a Plan B that says. God forbid something bad happens, you come to the airport in America and the person in immigration says, 'Welcome home.'"

Editor's note: This story has been updated with comments by Lutnick.