Donald Trump’s golden smartphone, dubbed the T1, has experienced yet another delay in its anticipated release. Announced in June, Trump Mobile, which is operated by Trump’s sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, has postponed the shipping of its flagship device. According to a report by the Financial Times, the company’s customer service attributed the delay to this year’s U.S. government shutdown, without providing further details.
This is not the first setback for the T1. Initially scheduled to ship in August, the release was first pushed to October. Following that, the shipping dates were quietly removed from Trump Mobile’s website in November, as the company began listing refurbished Samsung and Apple phones instead of the new device. Currently, the T1 is set to ship sometime in 2026, with an uncertain timeline for eager customers.
The smartphone is still available for preorder on the Trump Mobile website, retailing for $499. It is designed to operate on the company’s “47 plan,” which includes unlimited talk, text, and data for $47.45 per month—a nod to Trump’s status as both the 45th and 47th U.S. president. A down payment of $100 is required, and the website features a message stating, “Getting in line is easy.”
In June, Trump Mobile was promoted by the Trump Organisation’s trademark licensing arm, DTTM Corporation, as a “transformational, new cellular service.” The company emphasized its commitment to providing top-tier connectivity and all-American service for hardworking citizens. This initiative aligns with Trump’s broader goal of reviving manufacturing in the United States, particularly following the administration’s contentious global tariffs earlier this year.
Despite these aspirations, questions remain regarding whether the T1 can be entirely manufactured in America. The pressure on major technology companies like Apple to shift production away from China has heightened scrutiny on the feasibility of such a production model for the T1.
As customers await more definitive information on the smartphone’s release, the delays raise concerns about the viability of Trump Mobile’s ambitious plans in an increasingly competitive telecommunications market.
