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A Trump-branded phone? Yesterday, the Trump Organization — run by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump — announced the launch of a phone plan and a smartphone that is “completely made in America.” The USD 499 T1 phone will come in gold and be engraved with the US flag, it will be available in September. You can pre-order it now through the Trump Mobile website.
A calculated move: The announcement coincided with the tenth-anniversary of Donald Trump’s announcement of his first presidential run.
What to expect from the T1? The phone will run on Android 15 and feature a 50-megapixel main camera. The Trump Organization itself, however, will not be involved in the smartphone’s design, development, manufacturing, or distribution. “T1 Mobile LLC uses the “Trump” name and trademark pursuant to the terms of a limited license agreement.”
What about the mobile service? According to the official Trump Mobile website, the nascent venture is a “next-generation wireless provider with bold ambitions and a customer-first mission.” Trump Mobile’s cellular phone service — dubbed The 47 Plan — would set Americans back USD 47.45 per month — a reference to Trump’s status as both the 45th and 47th US president. Competitors are offering similar plans for USD 25-30 per month.
The 47 Plan includes unlimited calls, texts, and data and US-based customer service call centers. “You’re not calling up call centers in Bangladesh, you’re doing it right out of St. Louis, Missouri.” Eric Trump said. Aside from US-based customer service centers, Trump Mobile will be an entirely American venture — with its own smartphone manufactured locally, and marketed towards Trump’s supporters.
A petty move? CBS reports that the T1 mobile and cell service seem to be an attempt to exert further pressure on Apple — following Trump’s demand that the iPhone maker manufacture its products in the US in favor of China and India, with threats of hefty tariffs. Were the tariffs to be implemented, iPhone prices might double to reach USD 2k and upwards — a significant markup from the USD 499 T1.
But is the US equipped with the right infrastructure to support local T1 manufacture? According to Reuters, not quite. The newswire notes that while the US smartphone market is the most saturated in the world with more than 60 mn smartphones purchased annually, almost all devices are manufactured abroad, given the lack of domestic infrastructure, high labor costs, and labyrinthine logistics. CBS notes that the T1’s manufacturing may cause a dilemma for the Trump administration, as the phone will likely require imported parts — raising the question of whether or not it will be exempt from Trump’s tariffs.
A cash cow? Earlier this week, Trump reported more than USD 600 mn in income from crypto, licensing fees, and other ventures. According to NBC News, Trump-branded merchandise — sneakers, watches, books, and bibles — generated over USD 10 mn in profit for the US President. Whether or not Trump Mobile will prove lucrative, however, is yet to be determined.
