TP-Link’s Chinese founder Jeffrey Chao seeks US$1 million Trump Gold Card visa

South China Morning Post National SecurityNews ReportEN 1 min read 100% complete by BloombergMarch 19, 2026 at 06:59 PM

AI Summary

short article 1 min

Jeffrey Chao, the Chinese founder and CEO of router manufacturer TP-Link, has reportedly applied for a US permanent residency visa under the "Trump Gold Card" program. This application coincides with TP-Link facing national security investigations by US federal agencies, which are scrutinizing the company's operations and connections to China. The Gold Card program requires a $1 million "unrestricted gift" to the Commerce Department in exchange for the visa. While TP-Link acknowledged Chao and his wife are pursuing US citizenship, they declined to comment on the Gold Card application. The Commerce Department, which oversees both the Gold Card program and the TP-Link investigation, has not commented on the matter. TP-Link maintains its commitment to addressing any national security concerns and aligning its security practices with industry standards.

Article Analysis

Framing Angle

National Security

Primary framing

Political Strategy

Secondary framing

Mixed Tone

Sensationalism

Factual

Fact vs Opinion

OpinionFactual

Sources Cited

Limited sources

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Key Claims (5)

AI-Extracted

Chao and his wife are pursuing US citizenship.

factual — TP-Link100% confidence

TP-Link welcomed the opportunity to engage with the US government to show its security practices are in line with industry standards.

quote — TP-Link spokesman100% confidence

Successful Gold Card applicants must give a US$1 million “unrestricted gift” to the Commerce Department.

factual100% confidence

TP-Link is being investigated over concerns that its connections to China may pose a national security threat.

factual — people familiar with the matter90% confidence

TP-Link founder Jeffrey Chao has applied for an expedited visa under the Trump Gold Card programme.

factual — people familiar with the matter90% confidence

Claims are automatically extracted and should be independently verified. Attribution indicates the stated source of the claim.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

China 60% TP-Link Systems 70% Donald Trump ×270% United States Commerce Department ×375% United States ×380% Trump Gold Card ×385% Jeffrey Chao ×390% TP-Link ×595%

Keywords

tp-link 100% trump gold card 90% jeffrey chao 90% national security 80% visa 70% us commerce department 60% permanent residency 60% china 50% router maker 40%