Tick-tock: President Donald Trump’s golden smartphone faces another delay. Trump Mobile, the telecom endeavor managed by Trump’s offspring, has yet to roll out its flagship offering, despite prior assertions that the Trump-branded handset would transform the sector amid escalating costs.
The T1 Phone was originally set to be shipped in August (later rescheduled to October, as noted by The Verge) and was anticipated to be priced at $499. The announcement featured specifics about the new mobile network’s 47 plan, which promised unlimited talk, text, and data for $47.45 per month, alluding to Trump as the 45th and 47th President.
Like its rivals, Trump Mobile assured consumers of 24/7 roadside assistance and complimentary international calling, while also advertising “no contracts and no credit checks.” Prospective buyers were invited to reserve the phone with a $100 deposit.
Nevertheless, Trump Mobile has kept quiet as the phone’s shipping schedules have lapsed, with its last social media communication on Aug. 27, according to USA Today. The venture has eliminated shipping timelines from its website and instead introduced several refurbished Samsung and Apple phone selections for sale. The T1 Phone is still available for preorder.
Upon its launch, Trump Mobile asserted that the new device was fully produced in America, aiming to inspire American technology firms, including Apple, to move towards domestic production. The Trump Administration’s tariff strategy, aimed at foreign nations that dominate tech manufacturing, was projected to considerably raise prices for phones and laptops.
Soon after, internet investigators found that the phone’s mock-up visuals and limited revealed specifications closely matched the Wingtech REVVL 7 Pro 5G base model, created by Chinese supplier Luxshare. Industry analysts agreed: the T1 phone could not be completely “made in America.”
Trump Mobile has since rebranded the smartphone as a device “crafted with American values in mind.” What this signifies for a 5G Android device provided by a firm also marketing “renewed” South Korean- and Chinese-manufactured tech remains unclear.