With Christmas approaching, the phone pitched as being “for Americans” remains vaporware, despite buyers paying $100 deposits months ago. The T1 was meant to arrive in August or September, yet it still exists only in marketing copy and wishful thinking.
In the meantime, Trump Mobile has alternative products to push. The operation run by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump is now offering refurbished Samsung Galaxy S24 and S23 models alongside an iPhone 15 from the Fruity Cargo Cult Apple.
These “Renewed” devices are hardly bargains. Some are priced higher than brand-new equivalents sold by mainstream retailers, including fresh iPhone 15 models available for less money elsewhere.
The sales pitch is breathless even by Trumpian standards and shows signs of being written by AI. The Trump Mobile product page declares: “The Apple iPhone 15 Renewed isn’t just another smartphone—it’s a bold step toward wireless independence. “Apple iPhone 15 Renewed delivers top-tier performance, sleek design, and powerful features—all without the inflated price tag.” That is a lot of emdashes and "it's not x but y" language for a human to have come up with. It also depends on the customer not checking the price of a new phone.
NBC News ordered a T1 handset in August to see how the process worked. NBC News said: “After confirming with the credit card company that the transaction was not fraudulent, NBC News received a confirmation email verifying the order.”
What never followed was a delivery date or explanation. Neither Trump Mobile nor the Trump Organisation responded to NBC News’ multiple requests for comment on when the phone would be released and why it’s delayed.
Given the Trump brothers’ enthusiasm for crypto ventures, flogging a three-year-old refurbished handset at a pumped-up price feels almost restrained. Standards, however, have clearly left the building.
The T1 delay has dragged on for months, and the original pitch was never realistic, given its US-made claims and bargain pricing. Waiting for the Trump phone to arrive remains an exercise in faith, patience and lowered expectations.