🔗 Share this article Evening Hosts Target Trump's Controversial 'Gold Card' Residency Program Late-night's prominent comedians spent the airtime criticizing President Donald Trump's just unveiled visa program, labeled the "golden visa," characterizing it as a obvious pay-for-access arrangement for the wealthy. The Late Show's Pointed Take Kicking off his show, Stephen Colbert offered a satirical Christmas jingle about the president. "He's making a list, reviewing it twice, and then handing that list to the officials at ICE," he sang. "Trump ... ruins each thing he handles." The focus was the controversial initiative which allows international individuals to acquire U.S. residency for an investment of one million dollars, with a "platinum" option for $5 million. An official page promises processing "with unprecedented speed." "A quick note here to wealthy applicants: prior to you fork over the cash, what about Canada?" Colbert remarked. He pointed out that the card is also meant to "squeeze cash" from businesses looking to hire foreign workers, involving large fees. "That's a lot of fees, but if you register, you also get two free nights at a hotel of your selection – provided that it's the Tampa Marriott Bonvoy," he added. "Unprecedented background check the government has ever done," said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, "a $15,000 vetting to ensure these people completely are eligible to be in America." "That is important, you have to prove you're suitable to be an American," Colbert responded. "Question one: how many hamburgers would you eat for a free T-shirt?" Jimmy Kimmel's Scathing Roast On his late-night program, Jimmy Kimmel labeled the initiative the "U.S. Access Express Card." "This is a card that will permit wealthy foreigners to live here," he stated. "In exchange for a million dollars, you get legal visitor status, you get a route to citizenship, and a presidential pardon for one serious crime of your choosing." "It might be time to update that inscription on the Statue of Liberty – forget about your tired masses. Pay a million bucks, you're in!" he remarked. Kimmel teased the lack of detail of the application, observing it is "more difficult to start a Wordle account." He lamented that Trump "believes citizenship is something you can sell, like a steak." "Exactly, the best people are the rich people," Kimmel said. "It's what Jesus always said! Read it in the Bible. He says it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle if you give the needle a million dollars." Seth Meyers covering Affordability Issues On another network, Seth Meyers focused on Trump's plunging approval numbers amid financial anxiety. "Voters gave Donald Trump a another term since they were upset about the economy," he explained. Recently, in a attempt to tackle prices, Trump held a briefing in front of a array of food items, where he reacted strangely to some cereal. "These look great, I think I'm going to take some of them with me to my cottage and have a lot of fun," Trump stated. "Such as the Cheerios, I haven't seen Cheerios in a while." "He's so fucking weird," Meyers said. "What do you mean, you're going to take them back to your cottage to have a lot of fun with them? What exactly happens with those Cheerios?" Meyers wrapped up by mocking right-leaning media arguments of Trump's financial record. "Maybe instead of voicing concerns, you should give him a shiny trophy similar to the one FIFA did," he laughed.
Late-night's prominent comedians spent the airtime criticizing President Donald Trump's just unveiled visa program, labeled the "golden visa," characterizing it as a obvious pay-for-access arrangement for the wealthy. The Late Show's Pointed Take Kicking off his show, Stephen Colbert offered a satirical Christmas jingle about the president. "He's making a list, reviewing it twice, and then handing that list to the officials at ICE," he sang. "Trump ... ruins each thing he handles." The focus was the controversial initiative which allows international individuals to acquire U.S. residency for an investment of one million dollars, with a "platinum" option for $5 million. An official page promises processing "with unprecedented speed." "A quick note here to wealthy applicants: prior to you fork over the cash, what about Canada?" Colbert remarked. He pointed out that the card is also meant to "squeeze cash" from businesses looking to hire foreign workers, involving large fees. "That's a lot of fees, but if you register, you also get two free nights at a hotel of your selection – provided that it's the Tampa Marriott Bonvoy," he added. "Unprecedented background check the government has ever done," said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, "a $15,000 vetting to ensure these people completely are eligible to be in America." "That is important, you have to prove you're suitable to be an American," Colbert responded. "Question one: how many hamburgers would you eat for a free T-shirt?" Jimmy Kimmel's Scathing Roast On his late-night program, Jimmy Kimmel labeled the initiative the "U.S. Access Express Card." "This is a card that will permit wealthy foreigners to live here," he stated. "In exchange for a million dollars, you get legal visitor status, you get a route to citizenship, and a presidential pardon for one serious crime of your choosing." "It might be time to update that inscription on the Statue of Liberty – forget about your tired masses. Pay a million bucks, you're in!" he remarked. Kimmel teased the lack of detail of the application, observing it is "more difficult to start a Wordle account." He lamented that Trump "believes citizenship is something you can sell, like a steak." "Exactly, the best people are the rich people," Kimmel said. "It's what Jesus always said! Read it in the Bible. He says it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle if you give the needle a million dollars." Seth Meyers covering Affordability Issues On another network, Seth Meyers focused on Trump's plunging approval numbers amid financial anxiety. "Voters gave Donald Trump a another term since they were upset about the economy," he explained. Recently, in a attempt to tackle prices, Trump held a briefing in front of a array of food items, where he reacted strangely to some cereal. "These look great, I think I'm going to take some of them with me to my cottage and have a lot of fun," Trump stated. "Such as the Cheerios, I haven't seen Cheerios in a while." "He's so fucking weird," Meyers said. "What do you mean, you're going to take them back to your cottage to have a lot of fun with them? What exactly happens with those Cheerios?" Meyers wrapped up by mocking right-leaning media arguments of Trump's financial record. "Maybe instead of voicing concerns, you should give him a shiny trophy similar to the one FIFA did," he laughed.