Trump Mobile’s T1 Still Missing Months After Launch — Preorders, 'Made in USA' Claims and Photo Disputes Raise Questions

In June, a Trump-branded smartphone called the T1 and a new wireless service, Trump Mobile, were unveiled alongside a handset decorated with an American flag motif and an initial release window targeting August. Months later, customers who preordered report little clarity about when — or if — the phone will ship.

Preorders, missed dates and sparse communication

Reporters who placed a preorder in August paid a $100 deposit toward the $499 device and received an order confirmation, but thereafter received no proactive updates. Between September and November, customer support was contacted multiple times. In October a representative provided a ship date of Nov. 13; when that date passed, callers were told delivery would be in the "beginning of December," without a specific day. At one point an operator cited a government shutdown as contributing to the delay.

Plans and pricing

The T1 was introduced alongside mobile service plans, including a 5G option priced at $47.45 per month. That plan was promoted as including unlimited talk, text and data plus "telehealth services, including virtual medical care." Since launch, however, plan and product details on the company website have been quietly revised, and the site no longer promises a specific release month while still accepting $100 down payments for availability "later this year."

Image controversy and product changes

Early product photos showed a phone with a triple-camera cluster resembling other popular flagships. In August, a social account for the brand posted a different image of the T1 featuring more than three rear cameras. That picture was reported to appear to be a render of another manufacturer's phone. A phone‑case maker said the image looked like a doctored device and indicated it might take legal action; there is no public record of a lawsuit being filed.

Shifts in "Made in the USA" language

The website initially promoted the phone as "Made in the USA," but later removed that explicit claim. Current copy describes the product as "brought to life right here in the USA" with an "American-proud design," language that falls short of an explicit guarantee that manufacturing and component sourcing are entirely domestic.

Industry skepticism and manufacturing realities

Smartphone industry insiders caution that producing a genuinely "Made in the USA" handset on an accelerated timetable is extremely difficult without overseas involvement. Todd Weaver, founder and CEO of Purism — a company that sells a phone marketed as U.S.-made — described the challenges of building domestic manufacturing capability:

"When we started, there was no skilled labor in the U.S. capable of manufacturing a phone, and nobody had done it before. We had to go to China with our designs to learn the manufacturing process and build a supply chain," Weaver said. He added that it took Purism about six years to bring its Liberty Phone to market, which retails around $2,000.

Even Purism’s device relies on components sourced from the U.S., Canada and Europe, and uses chassis parts made in countries such as China and India.

What buyers should know

While customers wait for the T1, the company is offering other devices for sale, including refurbished iPhones and Samsung phones. Marketing copy for those devices uses phrasing such as "brought to life right here in the USA," but does not explicitly claim these devices are fully manufactured domestically. Prospective buyers should carefully review terms, refund and cancellation policies before placing deposits, and request clear shipping timelines in writing.

Bottom line: The T1 remains unavailable months after its announced release window, product imagery and website claims have shifted, and industry experts say the timeline and domestic-manufacturing promises raise significant logistical questions.