The Trump Gold Card, which was first announced earlier this year, is a US visa awarded to those who can demonstrate they will provide a "substantial benefit" to the country, according to the scheme's official website. It comes as Washington intensifies its immigration crackdown, including raising work visa fees and deporting undocumented migrants.

President Donald Trump's administration officially launched his "Trump Gold Card" visa program on Wednesday to provide a pathway, with a steep price, for non-U.S. citizens to get expedited permission to live in the United States.

During his first presidential term, Trump was accused of using derogatory language during a 2018 Oval Office meeting in which he was reported to have referred to "s***hole" countries, and disparaged Haiti, as he rejected a bipartisan immigration deal.

The Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday reported that 2.5 million illegal immigrants have left the United States as deportations rise.

Chair Jerome Powell refused to comment on the Supreme Court case that could impact President Trump's trade agenda, citing ongoing court proceedings.

Trump has previously spoken about his plan to offer a Gold Card visa program to grant U.S. residency to wealthy foreign nationals.

A Gallup poll, out late November, revealed that Trump’s approval dropped to 36%, a new second-term low. A Economist/YouGov poll released during the same period found that the president also reached the pitfall, with 38% of U.S. adults strongly or somewhat approving of Trump’s job in office.

After nearly 11 months in office, the president’s tendency to talk about his predecessor is more pronounced than ever.

The Federal Reserve lowered its key interest rate for the third straight meeting Wednesday but signaled it may pause further reductions in the months ahead, a stance that could put the central bank at odds with President Donald Trump,