Latest news with #TrumpPhone
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump Organization enters mobile phone business
Donald Trump's family business is launching a new Trump-branded phone service, in its latest plan to cash in on the US president's name. The Trump Organization, which is run by his sons, said it planned to sell a gold-coloured, "built in the United States" smartphone for $499 (£367.50), along with mobile phone service for a monthly fee of $47.45 - a reference to their father serving as the country's 47th and 45th president. Ethics watchdogs said the latest venture represented another means for potential corruption and conflicts of interest. A supply chain expert has also told the BBC that making such a phone in the US from all-American components would be "virtually impossible." "It's unbelievable that the Trump family has created yet another way for President Trump to personally profit while in office," said Meghan Faulkner, communications director for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). Trump has said he has put his business interests in a trust, which is managed by his children. The White House has maintained he acts on the interests of all Americans. But Ms Faulkner said the latest venture raised familiar issues, including whether the new business will win customers from people hoping to influence Trump and how the president will craft policies and regulation for an industry in which his family now has a stake. Technology experts have questioned what the Trump Organization's "built in the United States" claim about its handsets means and argued it is probably not currently possible to manufacture smartphones from scratch in the US. "They don't even have a working prototype. It's extremely unlikely," said Professor Tinglong Dai, who teaches operations management at Johns Hopkins' Carey Business School. "You would have to have a miracle. You would need to have economies of scale. You would need to have sustainable demand for this kind of product," Prof Dai added. The decision comes as Trump tries to pressure Apple chief executive Tim Cook to manufacture iPhones sold to American buyers in the US. Last month, the president threatened to place a 25% import tax "at least" on iPhones not manufactured in America. Analyst Leo Gebbie of CCS Insight noted that the US currently "simply does not have the high-tech supply chain" required for smartphone assembly, especially not in time for a September launch. "However, it's possible that the device could be assembled in the US with parts imported from abroad. This might be the most likely outcome that lets the T1 claim American sovereignty," Mr Gebbie said. The announcement was light on details, including the name of the business partner that will run the service and is licensing the name. The Trump Organization did not immediately respond to questions from the BBC about its business partner, criticisms around potential ethics issues and a request for details of its "built in the United States" claim. In announcing its plans, it said "hard-working Americans deserve a wireless service that's affordable, reflects their values, and delivers reliable quality they can count on". It pitched a policy of "discounted" international calls to families with members serving outside the US in the military. The announcement said the mobile service would have customer support staff based in the US to answer questions, as well as the gold-coloured phone, which is currently available for pre-order. The deal is an extension of a business strategy that Trump embraced long before his presidency, striking deals to sell his name to hoteliers and golf course operators in exchange for fees and royalties. But the opportunities to profit from his brand have expanded since he entered politics a decade ago. On his most recent financial disclosure, Trump reported making more than $600m last year, including millions from of items such as Trump-branded bibles, watches sneakers and fragrances. Forbes in March estimated his net worth was $5.1bn, more than double than a year earlier. It said the surge was due in part to the president's "diehard following", which is credited with helping to prop up the value of Trump's social media company that runs the Truth Social platform, which accounted for roughly half his wealth last year. Protestors accuse Trump of corruption as he hosts crypto gala dinner A $6.2m banana, a crypto empire and Trump's potential conflicts Will Truth Social solve Trump's money problems? The mobile phone market in the US is currently dominated by three major players: AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, which all offer phone service starting at less than $40 a month. There are also a growing number of smaller firms paying to use those networks to target niche groups of potential customers, by offering lower prices or tailored plans. The largest of those companies, which are known as mobile virtual network providers, have less than 10 million subscribers, according to a 2024 report by the Federal Communications Commission. Mint Mobile, which was backed by Ryan Reynolds, was sold to T-Mobile for $1.35bn in 2023. At the time, one analyst estimated the service had roughly two million to three million subscribers. The actor had a 25% stake in the business, giving him a potential pay out of about $300m.
New York Times
5 hours ago
- Business
- New York Times
Trump Mobile Phone Company Announced by President's Family, but Details Are Murky
President Trump's family business announced Monday that it was launching a mobile phone and cellular service in the first family's latest attempt to capitalize on Mr. Trump's political base. The announcement by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr, the president's eldest sons, who run the Trump Organization, left some basic questions unanswered. The new $499 gold-toned Android phones would be designed and manufactured in the United States, but it was not clear how or where. The country lacks much of the necessary infrastructure to produce smartphones. One member of the new Trump phone team also said a $47 monthly cellular service plan would include 24/7 telemedicine. But the health services that the company says would be included typically cost much more than the entire monthly fee. The plan calls for the Trump Organization to license the use of the family name to a separate business, called T1 Mobile L.L.C., that incorporated in Florida in late April. Although the Trumps are merely lending their name to the venture, the deal could still pose conflicts of interest as the president's family moves into an industry regulated by his administration. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
BBC News
6 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Trump Organization enters mobile phone business
Donald Trump's family business is launching a new Trump-branded phone service, in its latest plan to cash in on the US president's name. The Trump Organization, which is run by his sons, said it planned to sell a gold-coloured, made-in-America smart phone for $499, along with mobile phone service for a monthly fee of $47.45 - a reference to their father serving as the country's 47th and 45th president. The announcement was light on details, including the name of the business partner that will run the service and is licensing the name. Ethics watchdogs said the latest venture represented another means for potential corruption and conflicts of interest. "It's unbelievable that the Trump family has created yet another way for President Trump to personally profit while in office," said Meghan Faulkner, communications director for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW).Trump has said he has put his business interests in a trust, which is managed by his children. The White House has maintained he acts on the interests of all Americans. But Ms Faulkner said the latest venture raised familiar issues, including whether the new business will win customers from people hoping to influence Trump and how the president will craft policies and regulation for an industry in which his family now has a Trump Organization did not respond to questions about its business partner and criticisms about potential ethics announcing its plans, it said "hard-working Americans deserve a wireless service that's affordable, reflects their values, and delivers reliable quality they can count on".It pitched a policy of "discounted" international calls to families with members serving outside the US in the military. The announcement said the mobile service would have customer support staff based in the US to answer questions, as well as the gold-coloured phone, which is currently available for pre-order. Trump's net worth has more than doubled The deal is an extension of a business strategy that Trump embraced long before his presidency, striking deals to sell his name to hoteliers and golf course operators in exchange for fees and the opportunities to profit from his brand have expanded since he entered politics a decade his most recent financial disclosure, Trump reported making more than $600m last year, including millions from of items such as Trump-branded bibles, watches sneakers and fragrances. Forbes in March estimated his net worth was $5.1bn, more than double than a year earlier. It said the surge was due in part to the president's "diehard following", which is credited with helping to prop up the value of Trump's social media company that runs the Truth Social platform, which accounted for roughly half his wealth last year. The mobile phone market in the US is currently dominated by three major players: AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, which all offer phone service starting at less than $40 a month. There are also a growing number of smaller firms paying to use those networks to target niche groups of potential customers, by offering lower prices or tailored plans. The largest of those companies, which are known as mobile virtual network providers, have less than 10 million subscribers, according to a 2024 report by the Federal Communications Commission. Mint Mobile, which was backed by Ryan Reynolds, was sold to T-Mobile for $1.35bn in 2023. At the time, one analyst estimated the service had roughly two million to three million subscribers. The actor had a 25% stake in the business, giving him a potential pay out of about $300m.
Gizmodo
9 hours ago
- Business
- Gizmodo
Trump's New Cash Grab Is a Gold iPhone Lookalike That's Worse Than Any Budget Android
If there's one thing we've learned over the years, it's that President Donald J. Trump loves two things: gold furniture and using his status as U.S. president to make money. And now, to everyone's detriment, Trump is apparently combining those two passions into a mobile device that you can buy with real American tender. It gives me no pleasure to introduce to you all: the Trump phone. 🚨BREAKING: The Trump family is LAUCHING a "Trump Phone" the phones will be made in the USA 🇺🇸 Mobile plans will offer a flagship "47 Plan," which costs $47.45 per month. — The Patriot Oasis™ (@ThePatriotOasis) June 16, 2025 The T1, as Trump's family is calling it, will launch alongside an all-new mobile network, Trump Mobile, and comes with an aptly named '47 Plan,' which costs an even more apt $47.45 per month. You can use Trump Mobile with your existing device, apparently, but why would you do that if you could show everyone your appreciation for fascism with a whole-ass gold phone? Trump is also claiming the T1 will be 'made in the USA,' though I have doubts there's much truth to that. At most, it'll be assembled in America. There's a reason why Apple—with all of its resources—can't just make iPhones in America overnight or even within a few years. Here's a statement from President Trump himself on the launch of the phone: 'Trump Mobile is going to change the game, we're building on the movement to put America first, and we will deliver the highest levels of quality and service. Our company is based right here in the United States because we know it's what our customers want and deserve.' This isn't Trump's first attempt at a cash grab that leverages his status and fame as POTUS—he's already peddled gaudy gold sneakers, crypto, and NFTs—but for me, the T1 is by far the most egregious. Phones aren't just another product; they're a gateway into everything you do, say, and think. While Trump's team unsurprisingly doesn't mention privacy one single time in its announcement of the T1, there are lots of inherent concerns there. The good news is that this phone is so bad I don't really think most people, outside of Trump's diehard supporters, will be tempted to buy it, let alone use it every day. Here's a list of quick facts about the $500 T1: It has a below-average 5,000mAh battery that Trump's team accidentally calls a 'long life camera' and there are no details on the processor, though if it's as quick as the person who wrote the press materials, I'm going to assume that it's not great. There's a tri-camera system with no ultrawide, though it does have a 50-megapixel main sensor and what can only be garbage 2-megapixel depth and macro cameras. Oh, and the T1 runs Android 15. There's no mention of what apps are pre-installed, but if I were to guess… it's probably Truth Social. I'll grant you one free silent cry today in remembrance of a time before blatant conflicts of interest in the White House. The phone, if it wasn't a depressing reminder that our country has no standards anymore, would be fine, but for obvious reasons, it's not that, so I've gone ahead and made a list of all the things I'd sooner buy over the Trump phone: A mouthful of bees. A massage from a fistful of poison ivy. A five-night stay on Riker's Island. A colonoscopy with no sedation. A bath in molten lava. A Cybertruck… Actually, that one is debatable. I don't think anyone should buy this phone for lots of reasons, but one of the main reasons is it just doesn't seem like a good deal. There are tons of nice mid-range phones out there that are doing a lot more, and there's no reason for you to buy a stunt phone that will probably end up unsupported and underserved faster than you can misspell 'coverage' as 'covfefe.' That being said, if you suck, you can pre-order this device right now.
Economic Times
10 hours ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Trump Mobile plan revealed: Here's how much it will cost subscribers for unlimited talk, text, and data
In a bold extension of its brand portfolio, the Trump Organization on Monday officially announced the launch of its new wireless service, Trump Mobile , alongside a branded smartphone priced at $499. The service is expected to go live in September 2025 and has already generated buzz through its political branding and pricing strategy. The move, anchored on a monthly subscription model titled 'The 47 Plan' , marks yet another instance of the Trump business empire tying commercial ventures to the political identity of U.S. President Donald Trump , who is currently serving his second term as the 47th President of the United States. According to , the new mobile service will cost subscribers $47.45 per month and will include unlimited talk, text, and data , alongside additional features such as roadside assistance and a Telehealth and Pharmacy Benefit . The monthly rate and plan name are direct references to Trump's position as the 45th and now 47th U.S. President. Trump Mobile claims to provide network coverage equivalent to the nation's three largest wireless carriers — Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile — though representatives declined to specify which backend carrier powers the network, as mentioned in a report by NBC. The website further states that the service will offer U.S.-based customer support. However, when contacted, a customer service agent declined to reveal the exact location of the call center, citing 'security reasons.' Alongside the telecom plan, the Trump Organization announced the introduction of the Trump Phone , officially named the T1 . Priced at $499, the Android-based device reportedly comes with Android 15 OS , a 6.8-inch AMOLED screen , a 16-megapixel front camera , a 50-megapixel rear camera , 12GB of RAM , and 256GB of storage . The smartphone features a gold-colored metal frame etched with the American flag and branded slogans like 'Make America Great Again.' Much like other Trump-branded merchandise — including Trump Bibles, sneakers, and wristwatches — the Trump Mobile venture operates under a licensing agreement . The fine print on the official website notes that neither the mobile service nor the smartphone is developed, manufactured, or sold directly by the Trump Organization or its model has drawn scrutiny from ethics watchdogs due to potential conflicts of interest, especially given President Trump's dual role as a business magnate and head of state. Notably, President Trump reported earnings exceeding $8 million in 2024 from various licensing Trump Mobile's plan price point positions it at a premium, it appears costlier than several existing competitors. For instance, Visible by Verizon offers a similar unlimited plan at $25/month, and Mint Mobile has a comparable plan priced at $30/month over a 12-month term. As of Monday, the country's top wireless providers had not issued any public statements regarding the entry of Trumpmobile into the telecom space. With this strategic brand extension, the Trump Organization continues its trend of leveraging political capital into commercial ventures, setting the stage for what could be a high-profile addition to the U.S. mobile Mobile is a new wireless service announced by the Trump Organization on Monday. It is a branded telecom venture offering unlimited talk, text, and data, with a subscription plan called 'The 47 Plan.' The service is expected to launch in September Mobile claims to provide coverage equivalent to Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, but has not disclosed which carrier powers its backend network. Customer service representatives declined to confirm the provider, citing security reasons.
