Marco Rubio Gets Hit With Blunt Trump Reminder After His Bold ‘Not For Sale’ Claim

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday wrote on social media that “American citizenship is not for sale” as he vowed to crack down on so-called birth tourism.

Rubio said he was launching a task force to end the “heinous abuse of our nation’s laws,” referring to those who come here with the intention of giving birth on U.S. soil so the child gains citizenship.

But critics immediately pointed to a key problem with Rubio’s “American citizenship is not for sale” rhetoric: his boss.

President Donald Trump is selling a “Trump gold card,” or a pathway to citizenship for wealthy foreign elites. For $1 million, applicants gain lawful permanent residence ― a process that typically takes years, and has numerous legal requirements ― in a matter of weeks, according to the program’s website. Then, over time, Trump gold card holders can apply for U.S. citizenship as well.

Trump himself last year called it “the green card on steroids” as his administration bragged the program brought in more than $1 billion and could ultimately raise $1 trillion in revenue.

As of April, only one person had been formally approved by the program.

Given that reality, Rubio’s critics were quick to hit back with some reminders:

You sure about that? https://t.co/bGFghFKGdz pic.twitter.com/sWGHS0ZD7J

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) August 12, 2026

The Trump administration is literally selling US citizenship. pic.twitter.com/xAiCtitEGs

— Jared Ryan Sears (@JaredRyanSears) August 12, 2026

It’s literally for sale. https://t.co/nQq5fXokVr pic.twitter.com/IOL62xod99

— Alex Cole (@acnewsitics) August 12, 2026

Tell me more about the Trump gold card.

Citizenship is quite literally for sale. https://t.co/vMrXMeGAW1

— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) August 12, 2026

Marco- you literally sell American citizenship through the Trump Gold Card. This tweet is like saying the sky isn’t blue:https://t.co/Z1KA1SJft1 https://t.co/Y044CXXMAC

— Terry Virts (@AstroTerry) August 12, 2026

Then what’s this? https://t.co/MnWzoXWaAD pic.twitter.com/smyyT49rgb

— Moe Davis (U.S. Air Force, Retired) (@ColMoeDavis) August 12, 2026

It literally is. https://t.co/uuSeWQqEBe pic.twitter.com/wsTSd0JX7X

— Spencer Hakimian (@SpencerHakimian) August 13, 2026

> American citizenship is not for sale.

it kinda is tho pic.twitter.com/C7nI3NLCpq

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— Scott Evernden (@yay3d) August 12, 2026