Hundreds of thousands still waiting as Trump-branded gold phone faces backlash

A gold-coloured smartphone promoted by the Trump family as an American-made alternative to mainstream devices has come under growing scrutiny after hundreds of thousands of buyers reportedly paid deposits without receiving the product months later.

The device, known as the T1 Phone, was unveiled in June 2025 at Trump Tower by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump. Marketed through Trump Mobile, the phone was presented as a patriotic competitor to brands such as Apple and Samsung.

Priced at $499, customers were asked to pay a $100 deposit to reserve the device, with deliveries initially promised for late summer 2025.

Reports now suggest that nearly 600,000 buyers placed advance orders, generating close to $60 million in deposits. However, as of May 2026, there has been no confirmed shipment of the phone, and the company has yet to announce a revised launch date.

The project also drew criticism after Trump Mobile quietly removed claims from its website stating that the phone would be manufactured entirely in the United States. Industry experts had questioned whether the country currently possessed the infrastructure needed to build smartphones at scale.

Speculation later emerged that production could instead take place in China.

Concerns intensified after online users alleged that promotional images for the T1 resembled existing Samsung devices rather than an original design. Accessory maker Spigen even hinted at possible legal action after social media users claimed the company’s phone case appeared in marketing material with altered branding.

Customers have also reported multiple billing and customer service issues.

Journalist Joseph Cox wrote that his attempt to pre-order the phone resulted in website errors and incorrect charges to his credit card. He later alleged that additional unauthorised payments appeared on his account despite not approving further transactions.

Several buyers have complained online about delayed refunds, vague responses from customer support, and uncertainty surrounding delivery timelines.

The controversy has now attracted political attention in United States. Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Robert Garcia were among a group of lawmakers who urged the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether Trump Mobile engaged in misleading advertising or deceptive business practices.

The lawmakers questioned whether consumers had been misled through promises about American manufacturing and delivery dates for products that remain unavailable.

Despite the controversy, Trump Mobile continues to offer wireless subscription plans costing $47.45 per month. Meanwhile, the T1 smartphone, once promoted as a flagship patriotic tech product, remains undelivered.