Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick drew widespread mockery after posting an image of what he called a “Trump Card” on X on Sunday. The card is issued to wealthy foreign nationals under the administration’s fast-track permanent residency program, costing a hefty fee of $5 million.
Social Media Ridicule Over Design
Lutnick’s post simply read “Trump Card” alongside a photo of the laminated card. Critics quickly pounced, comparing its appearance to a cheaply laminated library card. One user quipped, “Looks like something I would've made in high school with some construction paper and a laminating machine.” Another noted, “It's a laminated paper card? Even my Apple Credit Card is metal!”
The card’s low-quality aesthetic became a central theme of the backlash. Some users joked about counterfeiting the cards, with one writing, “I'm going to start counterfeiting Trump Cards right now! I'll sell mine for WAY less than five million! DM me for prices!” Another simply called Lutnick a “card-carrying dipshit trumpanzee.”
Renewed Criticism Over Epstein Ties
Others used the post to revive criticism of Trump and Lutnick over their ties to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The association has long been a point of controversy for both figures, and the “Trump Card” announcement provided fresh fodder for detractors.
FIFA Red-Card Controversy
More users suggested Lutnick was referring to the “Trump Card” that the president controversially played to persuade FIFA to overturn U.S. men’s national team forward Folarin Balogun’s World Cup red-card suspension. One commenter noted, “The only card that can replace a red card, under FIFA rules. Lucky to have the monopoly on them!” Another said, “Today I learned the Trump Card beats any FIFA red card.”
Critics also highlighted the administration’s priorities, with one user stating, “Lower prices? Nope. Affordable health care? Nope. The Trump administration is busy selling $5 million ‘Gold Cards’ to Russian, Chinese, and Saudi oligarchs. That’s apparently the priority.”
Political Fallout
The incident underscores ongoing tensions over the administration’s immigration policies and its handling of high-profile controversies. As one user summarized, “In the end, this won’t be the flex you think it is.”
