Latest news with #TheTrumpOrganization
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Trump launches new gold smartphone ‘made entirely in US'
The Trump Organisation claims the new gold smartphone is built entirely in the United States. What do you think of the new Donald Trump T1 smartphone? Picture: Trump Mobile US President Donald Trump has unveiled a new gold smartphone that he claims is built entirely in the United States (US). Trump phone The new device, called the T1 Phone 8002 (gold version), costs $499, with reservations available for a $100 deposit. According to the website, the phone is expected to be available in September. The announcement comes amid an effort to entice Trump's supporters away from major telecom providers and wireless network services. Dubbed the 47 Plan, the service will cost consumers $47.45 a month and will offer '5G service through all three major cellular carriers' – T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T. According to the statement, it will offer telemedicine, unlimited texting plans with 100 countries, and roadside assistance. ALSO READ: Apple WWDC: Everything Apple announced including Liquid Glass 'Change the game' The eponymous Trump Mobile was announced in a Monday statement issued by The Trump Organization, which is led by President Donald Trump's son, Eric. 'Trump Mobile is going to change the game, we're building on the movement to put America first, and we will deliver the highest levels of quality and service. Our company is based right here in the United States because we know it's what our customers want and deserve,' said Executive Vice President of The Trump Organization, Donald Trump Jr. 'Sloppy' The 'T1 Phone' is advertised as 'proudly designed and built in the United States'. The Verge questioned the viability of building a phone in the US so quickly. 'All we have is a website that was clearly put together quickly and somewhat sloppily, a promise that the phone is 'designed and built in the USA' that I absolutely do not believe, a picture that appears to be nearly 100% Photoshopped, and a list of specs that don't make a lot of sense together. 'The existence of a 'gold version' of the phone implies a not-gold version, but the Trump Mobile website doesn't say anything more about that,' David Pearce at The Verge reported. Targeting Apple? The T1 announcement coincides with increased tension between the Trump administration and Apple in particular. In May, Trump threatened Apple with a 25% tariff for any iPhone sold but not made in the United States, putting new pressure on CEO Tim Cook to move manufacturing out of Asia. 'I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone's that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or any place else,' Trump in a Truth Social post. 'If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the US. Thank you for your attention to this matter!' China However, the US president later expanded the threat to include all smartphone makers. While Apple designs its products in Cupertino at the company's headquarters in the United States, most iPhone assembly occur at the Foxconn factory in China. Apple has announced plans to shift some production to other countries, including India, but Trump said this would not satisfy his demands. ALSO READ: [REVIEW] Huawei Mate XT: No tri-fold gimmick smartphone, but it's pricey
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Donald Trump's T1 Mobile Phones Will Be Made in US 'Eventually'—Eric Trump
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Trump family's latest venture, an "America first" mobile network and self-branded phone will "eventually" be built in the U.S., leaving questions about where the new "T1" phone will be manufactured ahead of its launch later this year. In an interview on Monday, Eric Trump, vice president of the Trump Organization, said that it was possible for the phones to be built in the U.S., and that "eventually all the phones will be built in the United States." Newsweek has reached out to Trump Mobile, the newly formed company selling both the phones and the mobile service, via email for comment. Why It Matters On the backdrop of the White House's "America First" agenda, the feasibility of a purely American-made smartphone by The Trump Organization, the real estate-focused company now operated by the president's two eldest sons, has been questioned by experts, given the country's higher labor costs, outmoded manufacturing capabilities and the reliance of even domestically made phones on imported components. What To Know On Monday, the Trump Organization announced the launch of Trump Mobile and its flagship cellular service—"The 47 Plan"—which offers users 5G data service, unlimited calls and texts and 24/7 roadside assistance for the price of $47.45 per month, a reference to Trump's election as the 45th and 47th president. In addition, the new gold-colored "T1" smartphone is currently available for pre-order on the Trump Mobile website for $499, and is set to be released in September. In its press release on Monday, the Trump Organization said that it would be releasing the T1 Phone in August. In this photo illustration, an iPhone displays the website for The Trump Organization's mobile phone service and a Trump-branded smartphone on June 16, 2025 in Miami, Florida. In this photo illustration, an iPhone displays the website for The Trump Organization's mobile phone service and a Trump-branded smartphone on June 16, 2025 in Miami, the announcement, the Trump Organization described the T1 phone as "proudly designed and built in the United States." However, this claim has already been met with scrutiny from tech and supply chain experts, who doubt whether a phone could be domestically manufactured in this timeframe or at the advertised price point. Nilay Patel, co-founder of technology news website The Verge, told CNBC: "I don't think they're going to sell a phone that has anything to do with the United States on any kind of timeline that makes sense." He added that the only phone which could be sold for $499 by September would be "undoubtedly a rebranded Chinese Android phone." "Barring miracles, building a smartphone entirely in the U.S. by September is all but impossible," Tinglong Dai, professor at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, told Newsweek. "The U.S. doesn't currently have the supply chain to support that. We don't make key components like screens, memory chips, or camera modules here at scale," he added. "Even final assembly would be a stretch without significant lead time and preparation." The Trump Organization has seen a surge in business since the president's inauguration in January. The ventures announced, as well as the expansion into new sectors like cryptocurrency and telecommunications, have drawn scrutiny from ethics watchdogs who have raised concerns over potential conflicts of interest arising from the use of the president's brand and office for financial gain. However, the White House has maintained that President Trump has sufficiently distanced himself from his business dealings. What People Are Saying Eric Trump, vice president of the Trump Organization, said in a statement: "I'm incredibly excited to step into this new digital space, hard-working Americans deserve a wireless service that's affordable, reflects their values, and delivers reliable quality they can count on. We're especially proud to offer free long-distance calling to our military members and their families — because those serving overseas should always be able to stay connected to the people they love back home." In an interview with Right Side Broadcasting Network, Eric Trump said: "In hopefully in the next six months we're going to be manufacturing the phones in the United States. And so it's kind of, you know, we'll all be done here in our shores, employing American people. At $47 a month, we're going to do it cheaper, faster, better, safer than any of the other providers." He added that customer service for Trump Mobile would be provided from offices in St. Louis, Missouri "and not Bangladesh, not India, not one of these places." Leo Gebbie, analyst at tech research and advisory firm CCS Insight, told the BBC that the U.S. does not currently possess the "high-tech supply chain" needed for domestic smartphone manufacturing. Meghan Faulkner, communications director for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), told the outlet: "It's unbelievable that the Trump family has created yet another way for President Trump to personally profit while in office." Tinglong Dai, professor at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, told Newsweek: "If the claim is 'Made in USA,' the [Federal Trade Commission] has a very strict standard: all or virtually all parts and processing must be domestic." "That rules out any meaningful reliance on foreign suppliers, which makes the claim unrealistic under current conditions," he added. "The Trump Organization's 'built in America' language isn't an official designation, so that may be the direction they're taking." What Happens Next? The Trump Organization and Trump Mobile have yet to confirm where the phone will be manufactured in the U.S, and whether these will be domestically made in time for the launch later this year.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
Donald Trump Enters Telecom Market With Gold-Colored 'T1 Phone'
New York: If Trump watches or sneakers or bibles aren't your thing, the family business just added another product to show your support for the US president: mobile phones. The Trump company announced Monday a new business, Trump Mobile, that will offer cell service in a licensing deal and sell gold phones by the summer. It's the latest in a string of new ventures struck despite mounting ethical concerns that the US president is profiting off his position and could distort public policy for personal gain. Eric Trump, the president's son running The Trump Organization in his absence, suggested the pitch is patriotism, emphasizing that the phones will be built in the US and the phone service will maintain a call center in the country as well. The announcement follows several real estate deals for towers and resorts in the Middle East, including a golf development in Qatar announced in April. A $1.5 billion partnership to build golf courses, hotels and real estate projects in Vietnam was approved last month, though the deal was in the works before Trump was elected. Trump has already used the main regulatory agency that will oversee Trump Mobile in personal disputes. The Federal Communications Commission has launched investigations of media outlets Trump dislikes and, in some cases, is personally suing. And the president himself last month criticized cell phone maker Apple, now a big business rival, because it planned to make most of its US iPhones in India, threatening to slap a 25% tariff on the devices. Eric Trump said that consumers deserve a phone that aligns with their values. "Hard-working Americans deserve a wireless service that's affordable, reflects their values, and delivers reliable quality they can count on," he said in a statement. The Trump phone deal comes as a mandatory financial disclosure report just filed with the government shows the president has moved fast in the last year to profit off his celebrity, taking in $3 million in revenue from selling "Save America" coffee table books, $2.8 million from Trump watches and $2.5 million from Trump branded sneakers and fragrances. The Trump Organization on Monday said the new, gold-colored phone available for $499 in August, called the T1 Phone, won't be designed or made by Trump Mobile, but by another company. The Trump Organization did not respond to repeated requests for more details on that and comment. IDC analyst Francisco Jeronimo said the monthly fee of just under $50 is pricey, the appeal beyond the most ardent MAGA loyalists doubtful and the business difficult given that cell phones break down. "It's not like selling hats and t-shirts. I'm not sure they have that all sorted of," said Jeronimo, adding "I'm not sure they are bringing great value to the American people." Donald Trump ventured into the telecommunication industry once before, giving speeches and promoting a multi-level marketing company called ACN that was eventually sued for fraud and misleading customers. In the first term, Trump was blasted by conservative and liberal government ethics experts alike for opening his Washington hotel to lobbyists and diplomats and violating his company's pledge to avoid even the appearance of a conflict between his private profit and the public interest. The company is feeling more emboldened now in the second term. The mobile service is partnering with existing cellular carriers with access to a 5G network, raising questions of how they will be treated by federal regulators now that they have partnered with his company. The Trump Organization said those companies are America's three biggest mobile network providers, an apparent reference to Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile, the latter with a trademarked name that is very similar to Trump's T1 Mobile. The name given to the monthly service offer, The 47 Plan, and the monthly $47.45 monthly fee make reference to Trump's two terms, the 45th and the 47th. The service will include unlimited calls, texts and data and free roadside assistance and telehealth services. A mock-up of the planned phone on the company's website shows Trump's slogan "Make America Great" on the front and an etched American flag on the back. By sticking to licensing, the Trump family is limiting its risk. Still, the new service faces big challenges if it hopes to sell beyond the president's loyal MAGA fans. The Trump company tried to tap into support among the middle class in the first term with two mid-priced hotel chains. Called American Idea and Scion, and unveiled like the phone service Monday under a giant US flag in the Trump Tower atrium, they flopped. Despite taking in millions of dollars each year in various licensing deals and a string of new ventures, the Trump brand has taken a series of hits to its brand over the years. During his first term, the Trump name was stripped off residential buildings and hotels in Toronto, Panama and Manhattan. The Trump International Hotel in Washington, since sold, lost money even though the family opened its doors to businesses and governments trying to shape US policy. The average condo in 11 Trump-branded residential towers around the country underperformed the broader market during and immediately after Trump's first term. More recently, the value of Trump condos in New York City fell in the past two years as similar properties rise in value, according to brokerage CityRealty. The Trump Organization has had more success with some ventures launched in the first few months of his second term. Trump Media & Technology Group, a Florida company that operates the Truth Social media platform, filed plans with security regulators Monday to launch an exchange-traded fund tied to the prices of two popular cryptocurrencies. The ETF is part of the Trump family's rapidly growing crypto empire, which includes a new stablecoin and launching and promoting memecoins. The president's most recent financial disclosure report reveals he made more than $57 million last year from World Liberty Financial, a crypto company he and his sons helped launch in September.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
The Trump family's next venture is a mobile phone company
If Trump watches or sneakers or bibles aren't your thing, the family business just added another product to show your support for the U.S. president: mobile phones. The Trump company announced Monday a new business, Trump Mobile, that will offer cell service in a licensing deal and sell gold phones by the summer. It's the latest in a string of new ventures struck despite mounting ethical concerns that the U.S. president is profiting off his position and could distort public policy for personal gain. Eric Trump, the president's son running The Trump Organization in his absence, suggested the pitch is patriotism, emphasizing that the phones will be built in the U.S. and the phone service will maintain a call center in the country as well. The announcement follows several real estate deals for towers and resorts in the Middle East, including a golf development in Qatar announced in April. A $1.5 billion partnership to build golf courses, hotels and real estate projects in Vietnam was approved last month, though the deal was in the works before Trump was elected. Trump has already used the main regulatory agency that will oversee Trump Mobile in personal disputes. The Federal Communications Commission has launched investigations of media outlets Trump dislikes and, in some cases, is personally suing. And the president himself last month criticised cell phone maker Apple, now a big business rival, because it planned to make most of its U.S. iPhones in India, threatening to slap a 25% tariff on the devices. Eric Trump said that consumers deserve a phone that aligns with their values. 'Hard-working Americans deserve a wireless service that's affordable, reflects their values, and delivers reliable quality they can count on,' he said in a statement. The Trump phone deal comes as a mandatory financial disclosure report just filed with the government shows the president has moved fast in the last year to profit off his celebrity, taking in $3 million in revenue from selling 'Save America' coffee table books, $2.8 million from Trump watches and $2.5 million from Trump branded sneakers and fragrances. The Trump Organization on Monday said the new, gold-colored phone available for $499 in August, called the T1 Phone, won't be designed or made by Trump Mobile, but by another company. The Trump Organization did not respond to repeated requests for more details on that and comment. IDC analyst Francisco Jeronimo said the monthly fee of just under $50 is pricey, the appeal beyond the most ardent MAGA loyalists doubtful and the business difficult given that cell phones break down. 'It's not like selling hats and t-shirts. I'm not sure they have that all sorted of,' said Jeronimo, adding 'I'm not sure they are bringing great value to the American people.' Donald Trump ventured into the telecommunication industry once before, giving speeches and promoting a multi-level marketing company called ACN that was eventually sued for fraud and misleading customers. In the first term, Trump was blasted by conservative and liberal government ethics experts alike for opening his Washington hotel to lobbyists and diplomats and violating his company's pledge to avoid even the appearance of a conflict between his private profit and the public interest. The company is feeling more emboldened now in the second term. The mobile service is partnering with existing cellular carriers with access to a 5G network, raising questions of how they will be treated by federal regulators now that they have partnered with his company. The Trump Organization said those companies are America's three biggest mobile network providers, an apparent reference to Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile, the latter with a trademarked name that is very similar to Trump's T1 Mobile. The name given to the monthly service offer, The 47 Plan, and the monthly $47.45 monthly fee make reference to Trump's two terms, the 45th and the 47th. The service will include unlimited calls, texts and data and free roadside assistance and telehealth services. A mock-up of the planned phone on the company's website shows Trump's slogan 'Make America Great' on the front and an etched American flag on the back. By sticking to licensing, the Trump family is limiting its risk. Still, the new service faces big challenges if it hopes to sell beyond the president's loyal MAGA fans. The Trump company tried to tap into support among the middle class in the first term with two mid-priced hotel chains. Called American Idea and Scion, and unveiled like the phone service Monday under a giant U.S. flag in the Trump Tower atrium, they flopped. Despite taking in millions of dollars each year in various licensing deals and a string of new ventures, the Trump brand has taken a series of hits to its brand over the years. During his first term, the Trump name was stripped off residential buildings and hotels in Toronto, Panama and Manhattan. The Trump International Hotel in Washington, since sold, lost money even though the family opened its doors to businesses and governments trying to shape U.S. policy. The average condo in 11 Trump-branded residential towers around the country underperformed the broader market during and immediately after Trump's first term. More recently, the value of Trump condos in New York City fell in the past two years as similar properties rise in value, according to brokerage CityRealty. The Trump Organization has had more success with some ventures launched in the first few months of his second term. Trump Media & Technology Group, a Florida company that operates the Truth Social media platform, filed plans with security regulators Monday to launch an exchange-traded fund tied to the prices of two popular cryptocurrencies. The ETF is part of the Trump family's rapidly growing crypto empire, which includes a new stablecoin and launching and promoting memecoins. The president's most recent financial disclosure report reveals he made more than $57 million last year from World Liberty Financial, a crypto company he and his sons helped launch in September.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
I can't wait to get a Trump Mobile gold phone to pay respect to my MAGA king
As a devoted supporter of President Donald Trump, you can imagine the joy I felt when I read that The Trump Organization is launching a mobile phone service featuring a classy (fake) gold smartphone. For far too long, my ability to show support for President Trump and the MAGA movement has been limited to hats, shirts, hoodies, beer koozies, key fobs, glassware, flags, pickleball paddles, footballs, ties, socks, aprons, beach towels, sunglasses, wallets, soft-cover journals, flip-flops, sneakers and tote bags. That has understandably left me feeling incomplete, thinking: 'If only I had a Trump phone to complete the look.' Well, now that problem will be solved for the low, low price of $499 plus a monthly mobile-service charge and, who knows, maybe a recurring donation to a Trump super PAC or something fun like that. (I can afford it because, to honor Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., I've stopped taking expensive blood-pressure medication and started drinking raw milk and a potent cocktail of horse dewormer and Brazilian toad urine.) 'Hard-working Americans' deserve an overpriced Trump phone Eric Trump said in a statement on June 16: 'Hard-working Americans deserve a wireless service that's affordable, reflects their values, and delivers reliable quality they can count on.' Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Amen, Eric! I am a hard-working American and need a wireless service I know will be backed up by the kind of longevity we expect from Trump-branded business ventures ‒ with the exception of Trump Steak, Trump Shuttle airline, various Trump casinos, Trump University, Trump Magazine, Trump Mortgage and Trump Vodka. Those all went away because the libs hate America. Is Trump getting rich off the presidency? What an absurd allegation. And speaking of libs, some are already getting bent out of shape about Trump Mobile. The Associated Press is unfairly reporting this accurate information: 'Trump has already used the federal government to reward his allies and punish his enemies. The Federal Communications Commission, the primary regulatory body overseeing mobile phone companies, has already launched investigations of media outlets Trump dislikes and, in some cases, is personally suing.' Panicky Harvard law professor Lawrence Lessig told The Washington Post that Trump's sure-to-be-awesome new phone business makes the chance of the president using his office to enrich himself 'more extreme than anything we've seen in the history of the United States government.' YES! Trump is quite literally the best at EVERYTHING. Lessig added: 'This is the sort of thing you'd see in a banana republic.' Which is fantastic, because I love bananas. Trump Mobile phones will maybe kind of be made in America-ish A partner in the Trump Mobile operation, Pat O'Brien, said during the launch: 'We are going to be doing phones that we are going to build in America.' To which Eric Trump later added: 'Eventually all the phones can be built in the United States of America.' I am personally PUMPED at the thought of owning a phone that might eventually, perhaps one day, be made in America. Though this particular phone, according to tech reporters and analysts, appears to be made in China and is going for about $170 on Amazon. However, that version isn't gold and doesn't have Trump's name on it … checkmate, radical leftist fact-gatherers. I want President Trump to have all my data I suggest everyone ignore lamestream-media reporting on this magnificent new product and consider my top reasons for wanting a glistening gold, maybe-it-will-someday-be-made-in-America Trump Mobile phone: MY president already has access to virtually all my most private data, so why not make his life easier by delivering the rest? There's no one I would trust more with my location, my passwords and financial information, my text messages and recordings of my phone calls than Donald J. Trump and his abundantly ethical family. I assume the T1 Trump Mobile phone will come equipped with a Marxist Radical Tracker App that alerts me if I'm in the presence of any potential leftists who might rudely roll their eyes at my phone or offer me affordable health care. For the $499 sticker price plus the $47.45 per month service plan, it's likely the Trump Mobile package will provide us ‒ for an added fee, of course ‒ with 24/7 access to Donald Trump Jr., in case we just need to talk or share a story about libs destroying America and all we hold dear. I've seen no evidence that Trump Jr. sleeps, so this seems a perfect fit. You America-hating losers can keep using your non-Trump phones and letting Big Tech know everything about you. I'm switching to a Trump phone, safe in the knowledge my personal information will be in the hands of the one entity Republicans like me have always trusted: the federal government. Follow USA TODAY columnist Rex Huppke on Bluesky at @ and on Facebook at
