Trump Mobile T1 Faces New Delays and Strategy Shift

Donald Trump’s foray into the mobile phone market has hit another wall. Trump Mobile, the firm behind the much-hyped golden "T1" smartphone, recently informed customers that shipping has been delayed yet again.

Originally intended to land in hands by the end of 2025, the device is now unlikely to ship this month. Support teams cited the recent federal government shutdown as the primary cause for the logistical holdup.

When the T1 was first unveiled in June, it was marketed as a "Made in USA" alternative to tech giants like Apple and Samsung. However, that ambitious branding did not last long. Industry experts quickly pointed out that building a high-tech phone using only American-made parts is nearly impossible today. Because of this, the company had to change its tune. They quietly updated their ads to say the phone is "Assembled in the USA" instead of being fully made here. It is a tough lesson in how global trade works, as even the biggest American brands have to get their parts from factories overseas.

The T1 is positioned as an affordable but flashy option with a $499 price tag. To secure a unit, buyers were asked to put down a $100 deposit. The phone has a bold gold finish and runs on the company’s "47 Plan," which handles calls and data. It’s designed to give fans a flashy look that works right out of the box on their own network. This wireless service costs $47.45 per month, offering unlimited talk and data. While the phone’s hardware aims for a premium look, its technical specifications have remained somewhat of a mystery compared to flagship models from established rivals.

In a surprising twist, Trump Mobile has expanded its storefront to include devices from the very competitors it aimed to disrupt. In a surprising move, the company’s website has started selling older, refurbished models of the iPhone 15 and Samsung Galaxy S24. These used phones are priced to sell, often coming in a bit cheaper than what you’d pay if you bought them directly from Apple or Samsung. This shift makes it look like the company is trying to make some quick cash by selling other brands while their own main phone is stuck in limbo.

A small team of executives with diverse backgrounds in construction, insurance and telecommunications led the project. While Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump have championed the brand as a way to fix a "weak" mobile industry, the road to release has been bumpy. The T1 has missed multiple launch windows, moving from an original August date to the end of the year, and now into 2026. For now, early adopters holding pre-orders are left waiting to see if the golden handset will finally arrive.