‘Never let reality get in the way': Trump family reveal new business venture
Menzies Research Centre's Freya Leach has discussed the Trump Organisation's new business venture.
The Trump family is launching a mobile phone and mobile coverage plans in the United States.
The Trump Organisation's press release stated the T1 phone will be a 'sleek gold smartphone' that will be 'proudly designed and built in the United States'.
'Never let reality get in the way of a good business idea, especially when you're a Trump,' Ms Leach said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Trump launches mobile service while in office with AU$73-a-month plan
Donald Trump's business empire is poised to expand further with the launch of a new mobile phone service while he serves as President of the United States. The Trump Organisation announced this week it would enter the telecommunications market with T1 Mobile, a service that will piggyback on existing networks owned by American telecom giants. In a nod to Trump's political status, the company will offer customers the '47 Plan,' a reference to Trump being the 47th president. Unlike traditional carriers, T1 Mobile will operate as a virtual network provider, using infrastructure owned by Verizon, AT & T and T-Mobile to deliver its services. The plan will cost Americans $47.45 monthly (about AU$73) for 5G service, positioning it as more expensive than smaller providers like Boost Mobile or Cricket but cheaper than major US carriers. According to the company's website, T1 Mobile will also begin selling a smartphone in August for US$499 (approximately AU$768), which it claims will be 'proudly designed and built in the United States.' This telecommunications venture represents the latest of many Trump family business ventures. Earlier ventures include Trump Media and Technology Group, launched in early 2021, which owns Truth Social and plans to introduce new investment products. Last September, the family backed World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency platform selling dollar-linked stablecoins, while Trump personally launched his own crypto memecoin, $TRUMP, hours before his January inauguration. Trump administration officials have dismissed questions about conflict of interest as Trump seeks to make money while serving as president, in part by pointing to the transparent nature of his business ventures. However, critics in Congress and among watchdog groups argue that the ventures offer a means for foreign interests and other shadowy entities to purchase influence.
Courier-Mail
3 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
Albanese's fresh snub from Trump snub
Don't miss out on the headlines from National. Followed categories will be added to My News. Anthony Albanese has managed to meet some senior Americans at the G7 in Canada – even if it's not Donald Trump himself. On Tuesday morning, hours after the US president left the G7 venue at Kananaskis in The Rocky Mountains for Washington DC, Mr Albanese teed up plan B US meeting a powwow with US treasury secretary Scott Bessant, the most senior American that remained at the G7 summit. However, in what looks like an example of Mr Trump valuing relationships with other nations above Australia, it's been confirmed the US president spoke at least on the phone to a leader whose G7 meeting he additionally missed due to his early departure. Mr Albanese is now 'considering' attending the NATO summit in Europe next week which could lead to a meeting with Mr Trump. Also at the summit, Australia announced further sanctions on Russia's 'shadow fleet' of ships that are designed to avoid sanctions on oil exports. Australia will also start negotiations with the European Union on a security and defence partnership. X SUBSCRIBER ONLY Trump calls leader he snubbed, not Albo On Tuesday, local time, The White House has confirmed that Mr Trump and Mexico's president Claudia Sheinbaum had a phone call. Mr Trump had been expected to meet Ms Sheinbaum at the G7, but like Mr Albanese that meeting was cancelled. Asked by if he would appreciate a phone call from Mr Trump, as Ms Sheinbaum had received, the PM said he 'wasn't driven by issues like that'. 'There's important things happening and (Mr Trump's departure) is understandable. 'I'm mature about things like that'. Mr Trump's departure from Canada, after just one day of the two day summit, was undoubtedly a blow for the PM. While he may not have relished meeting with the mercurial Mr Trump, Australia also had issues to discuss: from the AUKUS defence deal to tariffs. Besides, Mr Albanese has never met Mr Trump in person and that lack of face time is becoming somewhat awkward. The PM told reporters that there was no date set to meet Mr Trump. 'Meetings are rescheduled, that's what happens,' he said. Mr Albanese meUS treasury secretary Mr Bessant and, separately with Australia's US ambassador Kevin Rudd, US trade representative Jamieson Greer and the director of the US National Economic Council Kevin Haslett. The meetings were said to be 'cordial' and, given the people involved, focused on trade including tariffs. The family photo during the Group of Seven (G7) Summit at the Kananaskis Country Golf Course in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada on June 17, 2025. (Photo by Geoff Robins / AFP) But such is the current White House, that nations can have as many meetings as they want with US officials, however it's only Mr Trump that really matters and who makes the decisions. In addition, a meeting with trade officials is fine but it will have meant no discussions were had with the US on AUKUS. Anthony Albanese and Australian ambassador to the US meet with US trade representative Jamieson Greer and the director of the US National Economic Council Kevin Haslett at the G7 in Canada. Picture: Prime Minister's Office. Mr Trump may have scarpered but the G7 went on regardless with Mr Albanese having multiple meetings with world leaders including those from Germany, Japan, the UK, the European Union and France. Mr Albanese also took part in the extended G7 'family photo'. The leaders of the seven core countries – with Mr Trump in tow – did their snap yesterday. On Tuesday, a Trump-less G7 added Narendra Modi of India, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Ukraine's Mr Zelensky and, of course, Mr Albanese to an additional photo. After the picture was taken, the PM was seen warmly embracing Mr Zelensky. They may have both commiserated one another of their missed meetings with Mr Trump. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (L) embraces Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as they arrive for a family photo during the Group of Seven (G7) Summit at the Kananaskis Country Golf Course in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada on June 17, 2025. (Photo by Teresa SUAREZ / POOL / AFP) German Chancellor Merz offered to grease the wheels of trade in his meeting with Australia. 'I want to thank you for your support for the free trade agreement we are trying to get done with the European Union. It's very important,' Mr Albanese said to the Chancellor. 'Is there anything what we can do, or I can do to speed it up a little bit?' said Mr Merz, unexpectedly. 'Well, we're very keen,' Mr Albanese said excitedly. The PM also met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba who said Australia 'set an example'. The world was 'becoming more complex,' said Mr Ishiba referring to conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. 'Everything is connected in the world. 'And under such circumstances, I think Japan-Australia, co-ordination really continues to set an example of what a like-minded country's co-operation is and going forward together. 'I would like to make sure that a free and open Pacific will be realised.' Originally published as PM Albanese claws back US meeting after Donald Trump's early G7 departure
The Age
3 hours ago
- The Age
Made in the US? Trump's MAGA mobile is just another phoney deal
The Trump family says it's going to launch a mobile phone service with phones 'proudly designed and built in the United States'. Really? Not really. For a start, the statement in the press release claiming that the new 'sleek, gold smartphone' will be manufactured in the US is false. While a spokesman for the Trump Organisation told The Wall Street Journal that the phones would be manufactured in Alabama, California and Florida, Eric Trump admitted to a podcaster that, at least initially, the phones – supposed to be available from August – would be made offshore. 'Eventually, all the phones can be built in the United States of America,' he said. 'Eventually' could involve a very long wait. While the Trumps described 'T1 Mobile' as a 'transformational, new cellular service designed to deliver top-tier connectivity, unbeatable value and all-American service for our nation's hardest-working people', what's on offer appears to be an expensive re-badging of another company's offering. It's a licensing deal. The Trumps aren't building anything. They're selling the Trump brand, as usual, to a third party that will create a virtual network by accessing the actual mobile networks operated by AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. Are they at least offering the unbeatable value their announcement proclaimed? It appears not. The plan, as described, is $US499 ($766) for the phone plus $US47.45 a month (Trump is both the 45th and 47th US president – how clever!) for unlimited talk and text and 20GB of high-speed internet, access to telehealth services and roadside assistance. Leaving aside the service offerings (it's unclear whether they carry additional costs; the company that will provide the telehealth service charges a minimum of $US29 a month), the Trump Mobile plan costs more than twice that of similar plans offered by the companies whose networks will deliver the services.
