The Trump Organization has entered the U.S. telecom sector with the launch of Trump Mobile, a self-branded mobile service paired with a $499 Android smartphone. The new venture, aimed at conservative consumers, was unveiled Monday at Trump Tower in Manhattan, signaling the latest attempt by Donald Trump’s family to leverage the presidential brand in the consumer market.

The flagship product, a gold-colored smartphone called the T1, will operate on U.S. networks through a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) model. Pre-orders are open via the Trump Mobile website, with delivery expected in September.

Key Features of Trump Mobile:

  • T1 Smartphone: Priced at $499, the Android-based device features a 50-megapixel camera, 256GB storage, and requires a $100 down payment.
  • “The 47 Plan”: A $47.45/month wireless plan referencing Trump’s current role as the current 47th president and former 45th president. It includes unlimited calls and texts nationwide and international calling to 100 countries.
  • Call Centers in the U.S.: The venture promises American-based customer support and claims its phones will be “designed and built in the United States,” though specifics remain unclear.

Made in America? Questions Linger

Eric Trump, a senior executive in the Trump Organization, said on Fox Business that the phones are U.S.-manufactured. However, on a podcast later the same day, he acknowledged that initial deliveries may not be made in the U.S., stating, “Eventually, all the phones can be built in the United States of America.”

According to Reuters, the Trump family did not identify the phone’s manufacturer, and experts note that domestic smartphone production is nearly nonexistent due to high labor costs and global supply chain dependencies.

Todd Weaver, CEO of Purism — one of the only U.S. companies making smartphones domestically — called the pricing claim “classic vaporware,” citing the improbability of offering a U.S.-made device at that cost.

A Licensing Play

As with other Trump-branded products, the Trump Mobile initiative appears to be a licensing deal. According to the company’s website, the Trump Organization is not directly involved in manufacturing the phone or providing cellular service. Instead, it licenses the “Trump” name via DTTM Operations, the entity managing Donald Trump’s trademarks.

The MVNO will use existing infrastructure from the three major U.S. wireless providers — Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile — though no carrier has confirmed an agreement.

Business and Presidency

The Trump Organization says the new mobile venture is part of a broader strategy to offer bundled services like telemedicine and roadside assistance. Donald Trump Jr. said the monthly fee will eventually cover multiple lifestyle services via smartphone.

However, critics see a deeper issue. Harvard Law Professor Lawrence Lessig noted, “No one who has been paying attention could miss that President Trump considers the presidency a vehicle to grow his family’s wealth.”

President Trump’s latest financial disclosures show over $600 million in income from licensing, crypto, golf clubs, and other ventures — prior to his second inauguration. Post-2024 crypto earnings have reportedly added hundreds of millions more.