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Trump Mobile, the wireless venture backed by the Trump Organization, has postponed delivery of its long-promised gold-colored T1 smartphone beyond the end of the year, blaming the latest US government shutdown for the delay. The move extends the one-month slide to its launch timeline and highlights the operational challenges of turning a political brand into a hardware business in the marketplace.that
Customer service representatives for Trump Mobile said luck the shutdown disrupted shipments of the $499 device, and it said that while the device won’t ship this month, “we’re told mid to late January.” The company has not publicly provided a revised shipping date.
“The T1 is delayed because of the government shutdown. They have to stop everything on the FCC side of things,” the customer service rep said, adding the $499 price hasn’t changed.
Trump Mobile was unveiled in June as a licensing venture that uses the Trump name to sell mobile service and a branded Android handset, the T1 Phone. The device is marketed as a gold color smartphone priced at $499available by preorder with a $100 fee. It’s designed to run on “The 47 Plan,” a $47.45-per-month offer that bundles 5G service with unlimited talk, text, and data, the pricing a nod to Donald Trump’s status as the 45th and 47th president of the US.‘
At the launch, the Trump Organization and Trump Mobile framed the project as a business opportunity and a statement about domestic manufacturing. The first marketing materials promised a handset that was “built in the United States,” which is consistent with Trump’s public criticism of the Apple and his threats of 25% tariffs on Apple and Samsung goods made in China. Supply chain experts are quick to ask questions even a fully US-made smartphone at that price point is realisticnoting that less than 5% of the components of an iPhone are now manufactured in the US, according to IDC estimates.‘
The delivery schedule was repeatedly missed. Initial materials indicate that the T1 Phone will be available in August, before the date was pushed to October and then the vague commitment to deliver the units by the end of the year. In recent weeks, Trump Mobile’s website has removed specific release dates and “Made in USA” language, according to NBC News and Peoplewhich tracks website changes. As the flagship device remains unused, the company has started selling refurbished phones such as Apple’s iPhone 15 and Samsung’s Galaxy S24, positioning them as cheaper alternatives to buying directly from manufacturers.‘
The business itself operates as a virtual mobile network rather than building its own infrastructure. The Trump Mobile plan is provided by existing US carriers through Liberty Mobile Wirelessis a mobile virtual network operator based in Florida, while customer service is handled by Insurance Venturesa Missouri insurance company. The Trump-branded service was held at Trump Tower in Miami, and the key executives introduced at the launch came from real estate, insurance, and pager businesses rather than major smartphone manufacturers.‘
Trump Mobile did not explain exactly how the federal shutdown affected production or logistics beyond mentioning this factor in the latest slip. Industry groups have already taken notice closures could slow down regulatory approvals and customs processing for electronics, adding friction to certification and import timelines. Analysts also point out that most of the shutdowns leave private-sector manufacturing and many key supply chains operating, which may limit how much disruption they cause to commercial product launches.‘
As for customers who have already put down $100 to reserve the gold T1 Phone, some preorder buyers have reported only receiving receipts and generic assuranceswith no firm delivery date and difficulty getting detailed updates from support channels.
