Donald Trump’s family business is launching a new $499 mobile phone, along with a mobile plan that cost $47.45 per month that would include unlimited talk, text and data as well as roadside assistance and a "Telehealth and Pharmacy Benefit," according to the website.
Experts have pointed out that the Trump mobile plan, which is named the 47th plan (referencing President Trump who is both the 45th U.S President during his first term in office and is now serving as the 47th President), appears to be more expensive than similar plans from established carriers.
For example, Visible, Verizon's budget-friendly offering, sells an unlimited talk, text, data and hotspot plan for $25 per month, while Mint mobile's 12-month unlimited plan costs $30 monthly.
The Trump-branded phone, which will be called the T1 smartphones, also appears to be a premium designed phone with gold-coloured metal case etched with an American flag.
This move orchestrated by the president’s children was to further monetize the family brand while he remains in office. The announcement, made at Trump Tower in Manhattan, revealed that Trump Mobile will operate as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), leveraging the infrastructure of the nation’s three major wireless carriers—Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.
Key specifics about Trump Mobile’s business partners and the financial terms of the licensing arrangement were not immediately disclosed, leaving questions about the venture’s inner workings and profit-sharing unanswered.
A highlight of the launch is a “sleek, gold smartphone” that the Trump family claims will be designed and built in the United States.
However, the family did not specify which company would manufacture the phone domestically, and industry experts note that U.S.-based smartphone production is extremely limited due to high labor costs and complex supply chains.
Eric Trump revealed that the first batch of phones is expected to be released at August, but because of the time crunch it might not be made in the U.S. However, he promised that the future of phones would definitely be manufactured domestically.
The Trump Mobile website says its T1 phone runs on Android 15 and features a 6.8-inch AMOLED screen with a 160megapixel selfie camera.
Its other specs include 12 gigabytes of RAM and 256 gigabytes of internal storage, as well as a 50-megapixel main camera.
The Trump Organization, the umbrella for the president’s business interests, stated it is not involved in designing, manufacturing, or providing the cellular service for the smartphone.
The operator behind T1 Mobile remains unclear, and company representatives have not responded to requests for comment.
President Trump has stated that his business interests are managed in a trust by his children to avoid conflicts of interest, but it seems that the profits from ventures like Trump Mobile will ultimately benefit him.
Trump has recently released his financial statement, where it was recorded that he earned more than $600 million in the year 2024.
While a big bunch of his profits come from his crypto ventures, but Trump also has a myriad of other profit streams coming from his various projects such as his real estate ventures and his merchandises.
Harvard Law professor Lawrence Lessig has criticised Trump, claiming that the president has continuously used his presidency to grow his family’s wealth, pointing to the new mobile venture as the latest evidence.
The Trump Organization has a mixed track record with licensing deals, with past failures including Trump Vodka, Trump Steaks, Trump Mattresses, Trump Ice, and Trump University.
As Trump Mobile enters a crowded and challenging market, industry watchers are keen to see whether this latest branded venture will achieve lasting success or join the ranks of previous missteps.
Trump announced the launch of his family's new financial project, World Liberty Financial, on September 18, emphasizing that he would leave the slow and outdated big banks behind.
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