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The Hill
an hour ago
- Business
- The Hill
Trump Mobile faces roadblocks
The Big Story The Trump family's new mobile phone venture promises to build its golden smartphones in the U.S., an endeavor that experts warn will be nearly impossible in the current manufacturing environment. © AP Photo/Richard Drew Trump Mobile's T1 Phone will instead likely be forced to grapple with international supply chains that rely heavily on China and have been complicated by President Trump's own tariff regime. 'It is exceptionally difficult to see how a smartphone like the T1 device would be truly made in the U.S.,' said Leo Gebbie, an industry analyst with CSS Insight. '[For] anyone who digs beneath the surface, it will be incredibly clear that this simply is not a realistic claim and ultimately devices cannot be made in the U.S. because of the strength of the Asia supply chain, which is so far advanced and significantly further ahead of anything that exists in the U.S. at this moment in time,' he added. The Trump Organization, currently helmed by the president's sons, announced it would be launching a mobile phone business Monday — the anniversary of Trump's descent down the golden escalator at Trump Tower, which marked his entrance into politics. Trump Mobile plans to offer a $47 phone plan, an homage to Trump's tenure as the 47th president, as well as the golden smartphones. The T1 Phone is meant to go on sale in August for $499. 'You can build these phones in the United States,' Donald Trump Jr., the president's eldest son, told podcaster Benny Johnson. 'We can do it cheaper. We can do it better. And eventually, all the phones can be built in the United States of America. We have to bring manufacturing back here.' Trump Jr.'s focus on reshoring manufacturing largely lines up with the efforts by his father's administration, which has repeatedly cited an expansion of U.S. manufacturing capabilities as the driving factor behind its wide-ranging tariff regime. However, experts have cautioned that bringing smartphone manufacturing back to the U.S. is largely unrealistic, requiring billions of dollars of investment over decades. 'I think it's a nonstarter that you could produce phones in the U.S.,' Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives said. 'Could they produce a few hundred, a few thousand? Possibly.' 'But we don't see this getting off the ground,' he continued. 'And I think they're going to encounter the same problems that Apple and other smartphone makers have had and why they don't produce in the U.S.' Read more in a full report at Welcome to The Hill's Technology newsletter, we're Miranda Nazzaro and Julia Shapero — tracking the latest moves from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads How policy will be impacting the tech sector now and in the future: WhatsApp blasts 'false' Iranian reports accusing app of spying for Israel WhatsApp said Wednesday it is 'concerned' the messaging platform will be blocked in Iran after the country's state television urged users to remove the app. Iranian state television released reports Tuesday alleging WhatsApp was being used to gather and send information to Israel amid its ongoing conflict with Iran, The Associated Press reported. 'We're concerned these false reports will be an excuse … 5 takeaways from Tucker Carlson's interview with Ted Cruz Pundit Tucker Carlson published a nearly two-hour interview with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Wednesday, during which the two conservative firebrands debated President Trump's foreign policy, the future of the Middle East and America's place in the world. The conversation was decidedly contentious, at times deteriorating into shouting and insults, punctuated by a short clip Carlson published Tuesday evening showing him quizzing … Amazon CEO: AI will reduce corporate workforce Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said Tuesday he is anticipating artificial intelligence (AI) will reduce the technology company's corporate workforce over the next few years. In a blog post shared with Amazon employees Tuesday, Jassy explained how the company is rolling out more generative AI and agents for internal operations, which should 'change the way our work is done.' 'We will need fewer people doing some … Bessent: Musk 'more of a Viking,' I'm 'more of a ninja' Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent downplayed his reported feud with tech billionaire Elon Musk in a new interview, arguing that the two men merely have different operating styles. 'We have had disagreements, but we both want to get to the same place,' Bessent told New York Post columnist Miranda Devine in an episode of her 'Pod Force One' podcast released Wednesday. 'We both want to eliminate the … The Refresh News we've flagged from the intersection of tech and other topics: Crypto Corner Crypto caught up in Iran-Israel conflict Welcome to Crypto Corner, a daily feature focused on digital currency and its outlook in Washington. An Israeli-linked group appears to have hacked Iran's largest crypto exchange — Nobitex — amid increasing conflict between the two nations. Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic estimated the Israeli group, known as Gonjeshke Darande or Predatory Sparrow, transferred more than $90 million out of Nobitex's crypto wallets. The Israeli group claimed they conducted cyberattacks against Nobitex on Wednesday, one day after also claiming it was behind the hack of a state-owned Iranian bank. The group said it targeted Nobitex for facilitating terrorism financing and sanctions evasion. The hacked funds are currently held by addresses featuring explicit language aimed at Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Elliptic said. The funds appear to have been effectively destroyed by the hacking group and Elliptic suggested it is 'computationally infeasible' to create addresses with such long text strings, meaning the hackers likely do not have the private keys to access the funds. Incidents like this have sparked security concerns in the past about the crypto industry and the potential for crime on these platforms. Crypto advocates often dismiss these concerns, arguing it is easier to track and block illegal transactions over the blockchain. In 2023, a bipartisan group of more than 100 lawmakers demanded answers from the former Biden administration about the role crypto played in financing Hamas's October 7 attacks on Israel that year. Speculation was stoked by a Wall Street Journal report in 2023 that Hamas received about $41 million in crypto over the previous two years. In Other News Branch out with other reads on The Hill: X sues New York over social media disclosure law Elon Musk's social platform X sued the state of New York on Tuesday over a law requiring social media sites to detail how they moderate hate speech, extremism, misinformation and other types of content on their platforms. X argues the law, which is set to go into effect Thursday, violates the First Amendment by compelling companies to disclose 'highly sensitive and controversial speech.' 'The law thus impermissibly … What Others are Reading Two key stories on The Hill right now: Appeals court won't let Justice Department step in for Trump in E. Jean Carroll's $83M verdict A federal appeals court panel on Wednesday refused the Justice Department's effort to put itself on the hook for an $83.3 million defamation award … Read more Senate GOP leader faces pushback after members blindsided by Trump bill Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is facing strong pushback from members of the GOP conference over the Finance Committee's piece of … Read more What Others are Reading Opinions related to tech submitted to The Hill: You're all caught up. See you tomorrow!
USA Today
4 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
T1 Phone latest golden accessory from Trump world after sneakers, seatbelts and tweezers
T1 Phone latest golden accessory from Trump world after sneakers, seatbelts and tweezers Show Caption Hide Caption Trump Org unveils Trump Mobile cellular service, smartphone The Trump Organization unveiled Trump Mobile cellular service and 'T1' smartphone. The Trump Organization launched Trump Mobile, a new cell service and phone company. The T1 Phone, a gold-colored smartphone, will be available for purchase in August 2025. Trump has long held an affinity for gold things like tweezers, seatbelts and faucets. The Trump Organization is selling a new golden accessory: a smartphone. The Trump Organization announced June 16 the launch of Trump Mobile, a new cellular service and cellphone company. The new network will offer 5G service through "The 47 Plan," available for $47.45 per month − a nod to President Donald Trump's first and second terms. Trump Mobile will also sell what it has dubbed the T1 Phone, what the Trump Organization calls a "sleek, gold smartphone engineered for performance and proudly designed and built in the United States." The phone combines two of Trump's most well-worn business trends: gold things with his name on it. Here are some other golden accessories Trump has flashed: What we know about Trump Mobile: T1 phone, cell service plan, cost and its Android system Gold tweezers, gold sneakers and a gold guy in the White House It is no secret Trump has a tendency to brand items and businesses in his name. In 2004, "Saturday Night Live" made a fake advertisement for "Donald Trump's House of Wings" with singing chicks in eggs dancing around the now-president. His love for gold appears to go back just as far. Here is a look at some of his golden adornments throughout the years: About Trump Mobile's T1 phone: price, pics, features The Trump Mobile phone, called the T1 Phone, will retail for $499 with a down payment of $100. It includes AI face unlocking and an internal fingerprint sensor, according to Trump Mobile's website. The T1 Phone will also have 256 gigabytes of internal storage and 12 gigabytes of RAM storage. It will also operate on the Android 15 system and have a USB-C port and 3.5 mm headphone jack. Trump Mobile says the phone will be available in August 2025. Customers can pre-order the device now. What does Trump Mobile's '47 Plan' include? According to the Trump Mobile website, Trump Mobile's flagship service "The 47 Plan" includes: Unlimited talk, text and data Nationwide coverage on three major cellular carriers No contracts and no credit check 24/7 roadside assistance through Drive America Free international calling to 100 countries and free long-distance calls to military members and their families Telehealth services, including virtual medical care, mental health support and ordering and delivery for prescription medications Contributing: Aysha Bagchi, Lauren Villagran, Marina Pitofsky, Jonathan Limehouse, Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA TODAY Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@ Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @
CNET
4 hours ago
- Business
- CNET
We Did the Math: Trump Mobile Is a Bad Deal for Consumers
When the Trump Organization announced its new Trump Mobile cell service and gold colored T1 phone -- complete with an American flag on the back -- it raised a lot of questions. While most of them focused on the numerous mistakes and typos on the Trump Mobile site -- some of which have been fixed -- other errors and questionable policies, like calling RAM storage, not identifying the handset's processor or the fact that you can't get a refund for the T1 phone raised several flags for us. Even the images of the phone don't look real. Clever pricing, but better deals abound The Trump T1 phone gives me flashbacks to the Freedom Phone that launched in 2021 and was more a political statement than ground breaking smartphone. But it's the Trump Mobile phone service that seems like an odd fit in 2025. At a time when there are hundreds of MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators) -- think Mint Mobile or GoogleFi -- Trump Mobile aims to break into a crowded market with a curious value proposition: Pay $47.45 a month (President Donald Trump is the 45 and 47 president of the United States, get it?) for unlimited text, calls and data when it is expected to ship in September 2025. You can do that now for much cheaper with other wireless providers. In fact, Liberty Wireless Mobile, the MVNO that "powers" Trump Mobile, offers all that for just $40 a month (which includes 10GB of high-speed data, compared to 20GB on the 47 Plan, before data speeds are likely curtailed). I haven't used Liberty Wireless, but if the numerous instances of "Lorem ipsum" text on its FAQS page is any indication, it might be best to look elsewhere. Of course, Trump Mobile's 47 Plan comes with other perks that could justify the price jump, including telehealth sessions provided by Doctegrity, which normally costs $29 a month, and roadside assistance through Drive America (though it isn't clear what types of services are covered or if there are limits on the amount you can spend). The 47 Plan even includes "device protection," which would be great if it weren't for the fine print saying that "device protection is not insurance." So could Trump Mobile be a good deal? If I ignore all the vagueness that surrounds the 47 Plan, then maybe. But there are too many unknowns for me to recommend. Like how much is an additional line? Does the 47 Plan include hotspot data? Is there an autopay discount? Do I get streaming service perks like other carriers? Are there discounts for seniors? We reached out to Trump Mobile for clarification. Luckily, between the big three main US carriers and hundreds of US-based MVNOs, you have a lot of options. Here are a few wireless plans that are live now, offer a better price or value than Trump Mobile and are from companies that have a good track record when it comes to their service. Be sure to also check out our list of best phone plans that cover other features and pricing. Trump Mobile vs. T-Mobile, Mint Mobile and US Mobile Plan Cost 1 line (autopay) High-speed data Hotspot data limit Price guarantee Max number of lines Streaming resolution Trump Mobile The 47 Plan $47.45 (no autopay discount) 20GB n/a n/a n/a n/a US Mobile Unlimited Flex $17.50 10GB 5GB n/a Unlimited 480p (SD) T-Mobile Essentials Choice 55 $45 50GB Unlimited 3G n/a 2 480p (SD) Mint Mobile 15GB $20 15GB 10GB n/a n/a 480p (SD) Alternatives to Trump Mobile US Mobile Unlimited Flex Best value for a single line (prepaid) Like Runs on Verizon's network for "Warp" service, AT&T's for its "Dark Star" or T-Mobile's for "Light Speed" 10GB high-speed data, then unlimited at slower speed Taxes and fees are included in the sticker price 10GB of hotspot data Don't like Limited times you can switch networks for free The Multi-Network add-on is available only in the Unlimited Premium plan Phone data slows to 1Mbps after high-speed data is used up Cheapest rate requires annual purchase With the three major carriers in the US, you're using their infrastructure, and if there aren't any high-speed towers in your area, you're out of luck. By contrast, US Mobile calls itself a Super Carrier because, without a network of its own, it rides those three networks. They're given special names -- no doubt to avoid advertising for the competition -- and they break down like this: Dark Star is AT&T, Warp is Verizon and Light Speed is T-Mobile. That sounds convoluted, but it means you can switch to a better network for your area if needed without transitioning to an entirely new carrier. You still need to choose one, but you get two free network transfers and then pay $2 per transfer if you want to switch again after that -- it's a good way to see which one works best in your area. OK, to be fair, it can get more convoluted, depending on the network. Dark Star data speeds are at a reduced priority (dubbed QCI 9) in times of network congestion; for an additional $12 a month you can bump that up to a higher priority (QCI 8). With the Warp plan, data speeds are at that QCI 8 higher priority regardless of congestion. And the Light Speed level is even higher (QCI 7). The Unlimited Flex plan gives you 10GB of high-speed data, then unlimited at 1Mbps, for just $17.50 a month if you purchase an annual plan (otherwise it's $25 a month). Hotspot data is 5GB and then unlimited but throttled to 8Mbps and then 600Kbps if you use more than 200GB within a month. International calls and texts from inside the US are included, but if you're traveling you'll need to buy add-on roaming packages costing either $15 (1GB, 150 minutes, 150 texts) or $45 (5GB, 500 minutes, 500 texts). Why we like it It's an inexpensive plan with taxes and fees rolled into the price, plus you get the ability to surf among the major carrier networks to find the one that works best for your area. Who it's best for Someone looking for a simple phone line who doesn't expect to use much data. Who shouldn't get it If you're frequently away from Wi-Fi, that data could go by in a hurry. It's also not a great option if you need consistently high speeds, or you don't want the complexity of choosing one of the three networks. Customer service options • Online: US Mobile • Phone: 878-205-0088 • Store: n/a • App: US Mobile iOS, Android $17.50 at US Mobile Mint Mobile 15GB Best phone plan for 15GB of data or less Like Runs on T-Mobile's network More data than some comparably priced plans from other prepaid rivals Free calling to Canada, Mexico and the UK Don't like Best pricing often requires a full year commitment or is limited to new customers Hotspot data comes out of monthly allotment Despite the fact that we think most everyone can benefit from having an unlimited data plan, sometimes that's just too much data, and too much expense. When you aren't streaming movies or checking social media frequently (away from Wi-Fi), a limited amount of data on a plan can be just the right amount. Mint Mobile's 15GB Plan costs as little as $20 a month when you pay up front for a year or take advantage of a three-month new customer offer. For that price you get unlimited talk and text using T-Mobile's 5G/4G LTE network and the 15GB of high-speed data (then slower unlimited data if you blow past that allotment). It also includes free calling to Canada, Mexico and the UK, as well as 10GB of hotspot data (which comes out of the 15GB total). Why we like it With T-Mobile's network as the backbone, Mint Mobile's plan offers many of the same features as the larger carrier, but at a reduced, affordable prepaid scale. Who it's best for People who want the features of most mobile plans but won't use much data. Who shouldn't get it Someone who obsesses over data usage or is concerned about hitting the 15GB limit. Customer service options • Online: Mint Mobile Help Center • Phone: 800-683-7392 • Store: n/a • App: Mint Mobile $20 at Mint Mobile
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The Trump phone probably won't be built in America (and may never be)
President Trump's family is launching a smartphone it's calling the T1 Phone alongside its own mobile service dubbed Trump Mobile. One of the biggest selling points of the device, which will be priced at $499, is that it will be made in America. But the announcement, made by Trump's sons Eric and Donald Jr. on Monday, leaves a lot of unanswered questions, chief among them: how the company plans to manufacture a smartphone in America in the first place. According to Trump Mobile, the T1 Phone will be available in September, but experts are throwing cold water on the idea that the device can be built in the US by that time or even within the coming years. IDC analyst Francisco Jeronimo says the T1 will likely be based on an existing phone manufactured overseas. 'Smartphones are not like you decide to print a few more T-shirts or a few [types of] other merchandise,' Jeronimo told Yahoo Finance. 'They are complex products. So first, I doubt they are manufacturing or building phones themselves.' 'This looks like a typical white label product that you go to change and buy it from someone, put the logo on top, but that's it,' he said. Counterpoint Research analyst Blake Przesmicki offered a similar assessment of the T1 phone, saying in an email that it 'is likely that this device will be initially produced by a Chinese [original device manufacturer].' Todd Weaver, developer of Purism's Liberty Phone, a privacy-centric smartphone that uses US-built electronics, said it took his company years to set up the facilities and source the necessary components to ensure the phone's processing and communications features all come from America. 'There's a lot of challenges, many years, to even get to the scale that we're at, which is only thousands of phones and not hundreds of thousands of phones,' Weaver told Yahoo Finance. In an interview with conservative YouTube personality Benny Johnson, Eric Trump held up what he claimed was a golden Trump phone, though it struck more than a passing resemblance to an iPhone. Trump later added that 'eventually all the phones can be built in the United States of America.' Yahoo Finance reached out to Trump Mobile for clarification on the phone's origins but didn't receive a response by deadline. The Trump Mobile site lists the T1 Phone as sporting a 6.8-inch AMOLED display and 256GB of storage. The company also oddly lists its RAM as 12GB of storage. RAM and storage are different forms of memory. The phone will also come with a triple lens, set up with a 50MP main camera, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 2MP macro lens. Earlier reports indicated that the company initially claimed the phone would include a 5,000mAh camera, which is actually a measure of battery life, not a camera specification. The Google Android-powered T1 also includes a 3.5mm headphone jack and USB-C port. Weaver claims those specs roughly line up with a smartphone called the Revvl 7, which is currently sold by T-Mobile's Metro brand and is itself a version of the Chinese-made Wingtech Revvl 7. The Trump administration has made building devices in America a key part of its economic policy. Part of that effort included placing upwards of 145% tariffs on products built in China, including smartphones, laptops, and desktops, though Trump eventually provided exemptions for those devices. More recently, Trump has taken aim at Apple's Tim Cook, criticizing the CEO for moving manufacturing from China to other countries such as India. Last month, the president threatened to place a 25% tariff on Apple's iPhone, as well as Samsung phones, if the companies don't move manufacturing to the US. Industry analysts say building smartphones in the US would be a Herculean task, requiring companies to construct manufacturing facilities while also training the appropriate workforce, an effort that would take several years to complete. And September is coming quickly. Email Daniel Howley at dhowley@ Follow him on X/Twitter at @DanielHowley.
Newsweek
9 hours ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Made-in-America Trump Phones Will Cost Double the Advertised Price
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A new smartphone under President Donald Trump's brand, which was unveiled by his eldest sons on Monday, will cost well above its advertised price of $499 if it is indeed manufactured in the U.S., experts have told Newsweek. "A phone truly made in the U.S. today would likely cost well over $1,000," said Tinglong Dai, a supply chain expert and professor at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. "Without access to Asia-based manufacturing and scale, the economics simply don't work." Newsweek has reached out to Trump Mobile, the company behind the phone and new cellular service, for details on where the T1 smartphone will be manufactured. Why It Matters Trump and his administration have already put a significant political and economic premium on companies manufacturing in the U.S.—this being one of the principal goals of his trade agenda—while threatening companies who refuse to relocate production with punitive tariffs. Experts have already cast significant doubt the claim made by the Trump Organization and its representatives that the new T1 smartphone, set for launch in a few weeks, can or will be made in America. They have pointed to the marked disparity in labor costs between the U.S. and China, as well as the latter's heavily developed and specialized industrial ecosystem, tailor-made for the mass assembly of such technologies. What To Know On Monday, The Trump Organization, the umbrella company for the president's business ventures now managed by his sons Eric and Donald Jr., announced the launch of T1 Mobile, a full-suite cellular service managed by the newly formed Trump Mobile and aimed at America's "hardest-working people." While customers are able to switch onto this service—and its flagship "47 Plan"—with their current devices, the company also unveiled the T1 Phone, described as a "sleek, gold smartphone…proudly designed and built in the United States." On the Trump Mobile website, the phone is similarly billed as "MADE IN THE USA," and available for pre-order ahead of its September release, with a price tag of $499 and a down payment of $100. In an interview with conservative host Benny Johnson, Eric Trump said that the phones could be manufactured domestically, and that "eventually, all the phones will be built in the United States." A spokesperson for the Trump Organization told The Wall Street Journal that production "will be in Alabama, California and Florida." Donald Trump Jr. participates in the announcement of Trump Mobile, in New York's Trump Tower on June 16, 2025. Donald Trump Jr. participates in the announcement of Trump Mobile, in New York's Trump Tower on June 16, 2025. Richard Drew/AP Photo Currently, the only company manufacturing smartphones entirely within the U.S. is Purism, whose Liberty Phone is produced at its facility in Carlsbad, California, and retails for $1,999. In an interview with 404 Media published in April, Purism's founder and CEO Todd Weaver said that the smartphone relied on the use of certain imported components and leveraged knowledge gained from consultations with Chinese designers and manufacturers. Weaver also noted the superior technical knowledge in China, telling the outlet: "You could count the number of skilled electronics engineers on U.S. soil, and there's probably a million in Shenzhen alone." As experts told CNN, images of the new T1 phone closely resemble many already available on the market, including the Revvl 7 Pro 5G, designed and made by Jiaxing, China-based firm Wingtech Technology. Robert D. Atkinson, founder and president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), a D.C.-based think tank, told Newsweek that the only way for Trump Mobile to follow through on its promise of an American-made smartphone would be to "build a highly automated factory," otherwise high labor costs would make it "very hard, if not impossible to keep the price under $500." He added that it would only make sense to construct such a factory if sales were sizeable, given the capital required for equipment and software, but that it was still possible. "The Trump Organization could easily find a company, like Rockwell automation, to build them a highly automated factory," he said. " And the skills to operate it could be developed, especially if there was a community/technical college nearby that established a training program." Dai similarly said a U.S.-made phone could be possible, albeit "in the very long run," and that doing so by its advertised September launch "without a working prototype or supply chain in place, would take nothing short of a miracle." He added that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) places stringent requirements on companies who wish to put the "Made in USA" label on their products. According to FTC guidelines, this can only be done if "the final assembly or processing of the product occurs in the United States, all significant processing that goes into the product occurs in the United States, and all or virtually all ingredients or components of the product are made and sourced in the United States." What People Are Saying Economist Susan Helper told Newsweek that it was currently "not feasible" to make phones in the U.S., "but if we wanted to build toward this, we could make them (or next generation) here in say five to 10 years." She added that using U.S. strengths, such as 3D printing—"rather than millions of people screwing in tiny screws"—the final product "wouldn't necessarily be so much more expensive." Todd Weaver, CEO of Purism, told CNN: "Unless the Trump family secretly built out a secure, onshore or nearshore (fabrication) operation over years of work without anyone noticing, it's simply not possible to deliver what they're promising." What Happens Next? Alongside lingering questions over the origin of the T1, and its reliance on imported components, Trump Mobile and the Trump Organization have provided conflicting details on the official launch date: the former listing this as August, and the latter as September.
