The Trump family has unveiled a new venture into the mobile service industry with the launch of Trump Mobile, a branded U.S. wireless service and a new $499 smartphone.
The announcement was made Monday at Trump Tower in Manhattan and represents the latest effort by the family to capitalize on Donald Trump’s name while he serves in office.
The new service will function as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), meaning it will piggyback on the infrastructure of the country’s three major wireless carriers: Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. However, many specifics — including financial terms and the identity of the Trump family's business partner — were not disclosed.
“We’re introducing an all-in-one package — telemedicine, roadside assistance, and global texting — all included for one flat monthly fee,” said Donald Trump Jr., who led the announcement. The package also includes a subscription plan priced at $47.45 per month, nodding to Trump’s status as the 45th and now 47th president.
A centerpiece of the launch is a “sleek, gold smartphone” said to be designed and built in the U.S., although it remains unclear which manufacturer could produce such a device at the advertised $499 price. High production costs and a lack of domestic supply chains have traditionally made U.S. smartphone manufacturing rare.
Despite Trump having placed his business interests in a trust managed by his children, financial gains from these ventures are expected to ultimately benefit him. According to his recent financial disclosure, Trump reported over $600 million in income from licensing deals, crypto investments, and properties through the end of 2024. His crypto-related projects alone have since brought in hundreds of millions more.
“President Trump has clearly used his political office to grow the family fortune,” said Lawrence Lessig, a Harvard law professor. “This is just the latest example.”
The Trump Organization clarified on its website that it is not directly involved in producing or selling the smartphone or managing the service itself. Instead, T1 Mobile, a third party, is operating under a licensing agreement to use the "Trump" name.
While the Trump-branded service promotes U.S.-based call centers and phones “made in America,” analysts caution the venture may face challenges common to most MVNOs, which represent just 3–4% of U.S. wireless subscriptions and struggle with high customer turnover.
“To make a meaningful financial impact, Trump Mobile would need to surpass a million subscribers — a bar few celebrity MVNOs have cleared,” said Michael Ashley Schulman, chief investment officer at Running Point Capital Advisors.
The Trump Mobile website indicates that the branded smartphone will go on sale in September.
As the telecom industry watches this development unfold, analysts remain skeptical. “This move leaves more questions than answers,” said Paolo Pescatore of PP Foresight. “Without clarity on network partnerships and the Trump Organization’s true level of involvement, it’s hard to judge its real potential.” Photo by William Warby from London, England, Wikimedia commons.
