Trump family launches gold smartphone and mobile service

The Trump Organization has announced the launch of a new Trump-branded phone and mobile service. The company, run by former President Donald Trump’s sons, revealed that the new gold-coloured smartphone will cost $499, with a monthly service fee of $47.45, a nod to Trump being both the 45th and 47th president of the United States.

However, the move has raised serious concerns from ethics groups and industry experts.

“It’s unbelievable that the Trump family has created yet another way for President Trump to personally profit while in office,” said Meghan Faulkner from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW).

The Trump family claims the phone will be “built in the United States,” but experts doubt that’s possible. Professor Tinglong Dai from Johns Hopkins University said, “They don’t even have a working prototype. It’s extremely unlikely. You would have to have a miracle… economies of scale… sustainable demand.”

Tech analyst Leo Gebbie said it’s unlikely the phone will be fully made in the US because the country doesn’t have the needed parts and factories. He thinks the phone will probably be put together in the US using parts from other countries.

The Trump Organization has not provided details on who its business partner is or how it plans to build the phone. It also did not respond to questions about ethics concerns or the truth behind its manufacturing claims.

Despite this, the company said in its launch statement that “hard-working Americans deserve a wireless service that’s affordable, reflects their values, and delivers reliable quality they can count on.” It also promised special international call discounts for military families and US-based customer service.

The mobile plan is entering a crowded US market dominated by AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, which already offer services starting below $40. Smaller mobile companies that target specific customer groups often use these major networks. The largest of these smaller providers have under 10 million users, according to a 2024 government report.

Trump has long made money from licensing his name. Since entering politics, that branding power has grown. In 2023 alone, Trump earned over $600 million, with income from Trump-branded products like sneakers, bibles, and cologne. Forbes estimates his current net worth at $5.1 billion more than double the year before.