A redesigned version of the upcoming “T1” smartphone from Trump Mobile is raising new questions about whether the device is any closer to hitting the market.
New renderings released Wednesday from the company co-founded by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump show the gold-colored phone, listed at $499, with a more conventional vertical camera layout, replacing the triangular design unveiled last year.
The company’s website no longer includes any indication of when the phone might arrive, instead prompting potential customers to simply “Join the Waitlist.” That’s a notable shift from the initial rollout, when the “Proudly American” phone was introduced in June 2025 with expectations of an August release. Since then, the launch has been delayed multiple times, and a firm shipping date is still nowhere to be found.
The company also appears to still be walking back earlier statements that the phone would be “Made in the USA.” Those claims have since been replaced with broader language emphasizing that it is “designed with American values” and supported by “American teams.”
“You’re not calling up call centers in Bangladesh − do it right out of St. Louis, Missouri, and you’re going to have phones that are made right here in the United States of America,” Eric Trump told Fox Business when annouced the company in June, adding it would have a call center in the country.
Beyond the T1 itself, Trump Mobile also offers additional devices, including “renewed” models from Samsung and Apple, and allows customers to bring their own phones to the network.
Central to that push is its “47 Plan,” priced at $47.45 per month. The plan includes unlimited talk, text and data, with the first 20GB at high speed before potential slowdowns, and is marketed as offering nationwide coverage comparable to major carriers. It also comes bundled with extras, including international calling to more than 230 countries and territories, as well as device protection, roadside assistance and telehealth services through partner providers.
In January, a group of 11 Democratic lawmakers, led by Senator Elizabeth Warren, asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Trump Mobile over concerns it may have engaged in “deceptive or unfair business” practices. The lawmakers specifically raised issues about the company collecting $100 deposits from customers pre-ordering the T1, which had yet to be released even then, as well as whether it misled consumers by suggesting the device was made in the U.S. despite reports indicating it is likely manufactured overseas.
The lawmakers had requested a response from the FTC by February 15, but reports say they have not received one.
The Independent has contacted Trump Mobile and Warren’s representative for comment.
