The Trump Organization’s gold smartphones are finally being delivered to customers, months later than originally planned and with doubts still over their “Made in the USA” claims.
NEW YORK — Trump Mobile has announced it has begun shipping its long-delayed T1 smartphone to pre-order customers, nearly a year after the device was first unveiled to much fanfare at Trump Tower and nine months after it was originally scheduled to ship.
The company announced that the gold-plated T1 phone will cost $499 and will start shipping this week.
Customers are increasingly concerned about whether the device will ever materialize. The phone was originally scheduled to ship in August 2025. Its release date was pushed back to November, December, mid-March of this year, and finally the company quietly removed the release date from its website entirely.
“The T1 phone has arrived! Those who pre-ordered the T1 phone will receive an update email. The phone will start shipping this week!!!” Trump Mobile posted on social media, and a video of a gold Android phone with the words “Trump Mobile” on it.
Comments and replies have been closed on multiple social media sites.
CEO Pat O’Brien told the outlet that the launch was delayed as the company went through multiple stages of development and testing to ensure the phone’s components met quality standards.
“The technology business is harder than some people think because parts have to be tested for quality assurance. We have experienced delays at various steps in completing the T1, but in our opinion, the delays have been worth it because we are delivering an amazing product,” O’Brien said in a statement to Time magazine.
Some people are surprised by how similar the T1 is to off-the-shelf equipment. Users on the X noted that the phone appears to be a Chinese phone from T-Mobile that has been replaced by a newer version. one Unlocked version available on Amazon About $127.
“Product features and images are for reference only. Final product appearance and specifications may vary,” reads a note under a photo of the T1 on the Trump Mobile website, which also sells older refurbished Apple and Samsung phones.
The phone’s specs are down from what was initially advertised. The phone will have a smaller screen and less memory, while the Trump branding and gold accents appear to remain. Trump Mobile initially promoted the T1 as an “all-American” phone, but has since backed away from that claim and now describes it as “designed with American values” and shaped by “American innovation.” CNN.
O’Brien confirmed to multiple media outlets that the first shipments of equipment were assembled in the United States, and the company’s ultimate goal is to use mostly domestic components going forward.
Earlier this spring, Trump Mobile updated its pre-order deposit terms to state that the company “does not guarantee that the device will be produced or available for purchase” and that the deposit only represents a “conditional opportunity” to purchase the phone “if” Trump Mobile decides to sell it. Customers paid a $100 deposit for pre-orders, with the balance due upon shipment.
The company did not reveal how many phones it has pre-ordered or shipped, but said it expects outstanding orders to be filled in the coming weeks.
Trump Mobile offers cell phone service over existing carrier infrastructure for $47.45 per month – a reference to Trump’s terms as the 45th and 47th president.
