Customers waiting on President Donald Trump’s new gold-colored T1 smartphone are once again stuck in limbo.
Initially unveiled in June 2025 with promises of an August debut, the phone and its accompanying mobile service have now missed multiple deadlines. After first slipping to January, the latest delay underscores growing uncertainty around the high-profile device, which has been marketed as an affordable, “all-American” alternative in a fiercely competitive smartphone market.
However, the phone has been delayed for a second time. According to a customer service representative from the company, this particular delay was due to the recent US government shutdown, which began in October 2025.
The phone, set to hit retail stores at $499, promises to give “unbeatable value and all-American service for our nation’s hardest-working people.” The phone’s mobile service costs $47.45 per month, a price meant to symbolize Trump’s two terms in office as the 45th and 47th president.
In June last year, when launching the T1 alongside its mobile service, the Trump Organization made announcements about what subscribers to the mobile service would receive, which included unlimited talk, text, and data, along with 24/7 roadside assistance, device protection, telehealth services, and international calling to more than 100 countries without a contract or credit check.
The ‘made in the US’ slogan and controversy
Trump, who has in the past criticized Apple for overreliance on Chinese products and placed heavy tariffs on them, aims to get more “Made in the US” phones into the US.
However, a Financial Times report notes that the claim has been heavily debated by supply-chain experts and analysts, who say producing a US-only phone would require sourcing all components domestically, something that is not currently feasible.
The current smartphone manufacturers rely heavily on components and chips manufactured solely in Asia, making Trump’s US-only claim a big challenge. The brand has since changed from a “Made in the US” slogan to “featuring an American proud design that would be brought to life right in the US.”
The team behind this brand
Trump Mobile is a family-owned business, and much of the publicly available information about the brand has been communicated through the White House. Shortly before the latest update, the White House referred CBS News directly to the company for additional details.
Beyond members of the Trump family, the Financial Times reports that several industry figures are involved in overseeing Trump Mobile, including:
- Eric Thomas, chief of device for Trump Mobile and owner of Olympus Constructors
- Don Hendrickson, vice president of Liberty Mobile Wireless
- Pat O’Brien, president of Ensurety Ventures
What prospective buyers should know
For now, prospective buyers have little visibility beyond the preorder process itself. Trump Mobile continues to accept refundable $100 deposits for the T1, but has not published a firm shipping date, detailed technical specifications, or independent performance information for the device.
In the absence of a released flagship phone, the company has broadened its storefront to include refurbished smartphones from established brands such as Apple and Samsung. This move positions Trump Mobile more as a wireless reseller while its own hardware remains delayed. However, the company has not said whether this expansion is temporary or part of a longer-term strategy.
As of early 2026, no customers have publicly confirmed receiving a T1 handset, and the company has not announced when full production or retail availability will begin.
For more on how the Trump administration’s shifting tech trade policy could reshape global AI chip exports, see TechRepublic’s analysis of the potential Nvidia H200 sales to China.
