Secretary of State Marco Rubio faced a wave of online criticism after declaring that "American citizenship is not for sale," with opponents swiftly pointing out that President Donald Trump's own gold card visa program appears to contradict that assertion.

In a post on X on Wednesday, Rubio addressed what he described as "Birth Tourism" — a practice involving foreign nationals traveling to the United States to give birth so their children obtain automatic citizenship under the 14th Amendment. The issue has been a recurring flashpoint in immigration debates, with the Trump administration having moved early in its current term to challenge birthright citizenship through executive action, though those efforts have faced ongoing litigation.

"American citizenship is not for sale," Rubio wrote. "But elaborate birth tourism rings are profiting off the exploitation of America's laws — coaching foreigners to defraud the U.S. visa system, arranging travel and housing, and even forging documents, all to enable foreign nationals to obtain citizenship for their children."

Rubio also announced the creation of a "Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force" within the State Department, which he said has revoked "more than 600 visas from foreign nationals across the globe" over the past month.

However, critics were quick to note that Rubio's central claim was undercut by the Trump administration's gold card visa initiative. Unveiled by Trump in February 2025 as a proposed replacement for the EB-5 investor visa program, the gold card would grant foreign nationals a pathway to permanent residency — and eventually citizenship — for a $5 million payment. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who was tasked with promoting the initiative, initially projected it could generate trillions in revenue and help pay down the national debt. Although the program has largely stalled amid logistical and legal hurdles, it remained a focal point for Rubio's detractors.

Former GOP operative Rick Wilson responded directly to Rubio's post, writing: "Tell me more about the Trump gold card. Citizenship is quite literally for sale."

Sofia Kinzinger, a former GOP congressional staffer, echoed that sentiment. "The first sentence is not true," she wrote. "Donald Trump offered a pathway to U.S. citizenship to those willing to pay $5 million for his 'Trump Gold Card.'"

Progressive commentator Alex Cole agreed, writing, "It's literally for sale," alongside an image of the visa bearing the header "The Trump Gold Card is Here."

The official press office account for California Governor Gavin Newsom also weighed in, asking Rubio: "You sure about that?" — accompanied by a screenshot from the State Department's website displaying the same "The Trump Gold Card is Here" banner.

The clash underscores a broader tension within the administration's immigration posture, which has paired aggressive enforcement measures — including visa crackdowns and restrictions on asylum — with proposals to create new pathways for wealthy foreign nationals willing to pay for entry.

The first sentence is not true. Donald Trump offered a pathway to U.S. citizenship to those willing to pay $5 million for his "Trump Gold Card." — Sofia B. Kinzinger (@sofiakinzinger) August 12, 2026