Trump Organization Launches 'Trump Mobile', Then Removes U.S.-Made Phone Claim

The Trump Organization on 16 June announced a new wireless venture, Trump Mobile, positioning it as a patriotic alternative to the major U.S. carriers. The service, marketed by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., offers a $47.45-per-month “47 Plan” that includes unlimited talk, text and data, roadside assistance and tele-health benefits. Trump Mobile operates as a mobile virtual network operator using the 5G infrastructure of AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile.

Alongside the plan, the company began taking pre-orders for a gold-coloured Android handset branded the T1 Phone, priced at $499 with a $100 deposit. Promotional materials initially highlighted the device and its customer-support operations as “made in the USA,” and the website featured a banner stating “Our MADE IN THE USA T1 Phone is available for pre-order now.”

Industry analysts immediately questioned the manufacturing claim, noting the lack of a domestic supply chain capable of producing a smartphone at that price. On 26 June the Trump Mobile website quietly removed references to U.S. production, replacing them with phrases such as “American-Proud Design” and “brought to life right here in the USA.” A spokesperson insisted the handset is still being built domestically, but experts cited by CNBC and NBC News said the phone is likely to be assembled by an original-device manufacturer in China.

The site revisions also trimmed the device’s advertised specifications, reducing the screen size to 6.25 inches and omitting an earlier reference to 12 GB of RAM. Separately, early users who activated the service reported that the MVNO cuts off high-speed data after 20 GB a month rather than throttling it, and that customer-support procedures are still being refined.

Ethics watchdogs say the venture raises conflict-of-interest concerns because President Donald Trump, while in office, exerts influence over the Federal Communications Commission and tariff policy that affect rivals in the telecom and handset industries. The Trump family has not addressed those criticisms but says the brand aims to “bring products back to our great country.”