Where's the phone that was promised? This summer, the Trump family unveiled their own branded phone, Trump Mobile, promising a device "built by Americans, for Americans." Eric Trump even declared they aimed to "do it better than anybody" in the mobile market. The T1 smartphone, licensed from the Trump Organization, pledged "All-American performance."
But here's where it gets controversial: Will this phone ever actually arrive?
Reports from NBC indicate that despite placing orders months ago, journalists are still waiting. Initially slated for an August release, the T1 is nowhere to be seen, with the company now vaguely promising a release "later this year." With the year quickly drawing to a close, the clock is ticking for Trump Mobile to deliver.
NBC's attempts to get answers from customer support led to a blame game, with an operator citing the government shutdown as a reason for the delay, with no specific date. What's the connection between a private company and a government shutdown?
Gizmodo also contacted customer support, and they were told the phone was now expected at the end of December. However, they were unable to provide a reason for the delay.
USA Today and The Verge have also questioned the T1's whereabouts. The Verge's Dominic Preston has been repeatedly asking, "Where is the promised Trump phone, does it exist, and what happened to the money?"
Trump Mobile has a history of unclear information. Initially, the company promised U.S. manufacturing, but that claim disappeared from their website. A spokesperson later claimed the phones were "proudly being made in America," while the website currently states "American hands" are "behind every device." Gizmodo reached out to Trump Mobile and the Trump Organization for more information.
Given Trump's history of putting his name on various products, the move into cellular devices isn't surprising. However, considering Trump's business track record, the lack of delivery is not unexpected.
Do you think Trump Mobile will ever release the T1?
The Trump family has launched several business ventures, and reports suggest they are making substantial profits. According to PBS, the Trump family has made hundreds of millions of dollars from World Liberty Financial, among other cryptocurrency businesses.
