Nearly 600,000 Buyers Still Waiting On Trump Mobile’s T1 Phone, MAGA Customers Voice Frustration
Nearly a year after Trump Mobile announced its gold T1 smartphone, customers who paid deposits are still waiting for a device that has not shipped.
The phone was introduced in June 2025 by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump as part of Trump Mobile, a wireless venture tied to the Trump family brand. The T1 was marketed as a $499 smartphone featuring a gold design and American flag styling. Buyers were asked to place a $100 preorder deposit.
Reports estimate that about 590,000 people paid deposits, totaling roughly $59 million. But as of May 2026, no confirmed customer has received the phone, and Trump Mobile’s website no longer lists a clear release date.
Some Trump supporters who placed orders have started publicly questioning where the phones are.
MSNBC exposes a massive Trump family scam. Over half a million loyal supporters were duped into paying $100 deposits for a non-existent gold mobile phone.
— Furkan Gözükara (@FurkanGozukara) May 12, 2026
The grift is absolute. Terms explicitly state the pre-order guarantees nothing, and zero devices have been shipped. pic.twitter.com/BZUfeHuco9
In a viral TikTok video, one man who identified himself as a Trump supporter said he ordered multiple gold Trump phones and still had not received them months later.
The frustration follows a series of reported delays. The T1 was initially expected in August 2025, then reportedly pushed to November, December and later into early 2026. NBC News placed a $100 deposit in August 2025 and reported that it received no proactive updates after ordering, then got different answers from customer service representatives about possible shipping dates.
“Made In America” Language Was Later Changed
At launch, Trump Mobile promoted the T1 with “Made in America” language. Donald Trump Jr. also promoted the idea of building phones in the United States during an interview with conservative commentator Benny Johnson.
That wording later changed. The website shifted to phrases such as “designed with American values in mind,” “shaped by American innovation” and supported by American teams involved in design and quality.
Business Insider reported in June 2025 that Trump Mobile removed the prominent “Made in the USA” wording from the phone listing after the launch, as experts questioned whether a $499 smartphone could realistically be fully manufactured in the United States.
Fine Print Says Deposits Do Not Guarantee A Phone
Trump Mobile’s preorder terms have also drawn attention. Updated terms say a preorder deposit gives customers only a conditional opportunity to buy the device if Trump Mobile later chooses to offer it for sale.
The terms state that a deposit is not a purchase, does not create a sales contract, does not reserve inventory and does not guarantee that the device will be produced or made available. The terms also say estimated shipping dates and production schedules are nonbinding.
That language has intensified concern among buyers who paid deposits expecting a phone to eventually arrive.
Also Read: Trump Profits $1.4 Billion From Presidency, According To NYT
Lawmakers Asked The FTC To Review Trump Mobile
In January 2026, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and other Democratic lawmakers asked the Federal Trade Commission to review Trump Mobile’s marketing practices. Their letter cited concerns about the company’s earlier “Made in the USA” claims and deposits for phones that had not been delivered.
“The American people deserve to know that consumer protection laws apply equally to all businesses, regardless of political connections,” the lawmakers wrote.
Journalist Joseph Cox of 404 Media also documented problems while trying to preorder the phone. Cox reported that the website failed, charged the wrong amount and sent a confirmation email even though he had not provided a shipping address or paid the full phone price.
The T1’s Future Remains Unclear
Trump Mobile has continued selling wireless service plans and refurbished phones, including iPhones and Samsung devices, while the T1 remains unavailable.
For now, the gold Trump phone remains more promise than product. Buyers paid deposits. The release date disappeared. The fine print changed. And nearly a year later, the phones have not arrived.
