Is Trump Mobile first family's latest effort to cash in on the White House? What you need to know
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The Trump Organization announced Monday it will launch a new mobile phone service, expanding the family's business empire while Donald Trump is president. The T1 Mobile service will offer the "47 Plan," a reference to Trump being the 47th president. Trump Mobile will be a virtual operator, meaning it will offer the services through the networks controlled by US telecom giants Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. The monthly rate of $47.45 for 5G service will be less than that of legacy US telecom giants but more than smaller providers such as Boost Mobile or Cricket.This is seen as an attempt by the Trump family to mint money by earning profit off the current president's name and public image: Trump Mobile and a wireless phone service, reports Rolling Stone. The announcement of Trump Mobile was timed specifically to coincide with 'the 10-year anniversary of their father's launch of his historic presidential campaign,' according to a press release issued by the Trump Organization.The Trump Organization is currently managed by President Trump's eldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump. Since the start of Trump's second term, the family business has seen a notable surge in activity—raising fresh questions about potential conflicts of interest and ethical boundaries.Trump Mobile is one of the latest ventures bearing the Trump name and it operates as a licensing arrangement and includes a disclaimer clarifying that neither the Trump Organization nor its affiliates are involved in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution, or sale of its products and services. Instead, T1 Mobile LLC is permitted to use the "Trump" name and trademark under a limited license agreement that can be revoked under certain conditions.The initial launch of Trump Mobile is heavy on Trump-themed branding and promotional offers. While it stops short of a direct endorsement by President Trump, it clearly capitalizes on his image and political persona, the report suggests.The company will sell a golden 'T1' smartphone (set to launch in August) and 'the 47 plan,' a cell service plan priced at $47.45 a month – a reference to Trump's two presidential terms. It could be assumed that flipping the term numbers out of the proper 45-47 order is a strategic move by the profit-driven family, aiming to squeeze an extra $1.98 per month from their customers by referencing their patriarch.T1 Mobile will also begin selling in August a smartphone for $499, according to the company's website, which says the phone will be "proudly designed and built in the United States." T1 Mobile did not immediately reply to requests for details about contractors involved in building the phone.The push into mobile phone technology marks the Trump family's latest diversification step of recent years.'Trump Mobile is going to revolutionize cell phones,' Eric Trump told Fox Business on Monday morning.In early 2021, Donald Trump launched the Trump Media and Technology Group, which owns the Truth Social platform and is reportedly preparing to roll out new investment products.By September 2024, the Trump family publicly endorsed World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency platform offering stablecoins pegged to the U.S. dollar.Just hours before his January inauguration, Trump unveiled his own personal cryptocurrency memecoin, dubbed $TRUMP.While Trump administration officials have downplayed concerns over potential conflicts of interest—citing the transparency of his business dealings—critics in Congress and from watchdog organizations argue that these ventures could serve as a backdoor for foreign actors and other opaque entities to gain political influence.(With AFP inputs)
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