Trump Mobile has repeatedly failed more than half a million people waiting for its T1 smartphone, with the legendary device still not going on sale nearly a year after its launch. This may never happen.
Launching in June 2025, Trump Mobile from the Trump Organization has announced that it will launch the T1 smartphone as a “Made in the USA” device. It was a popular device among President Trump’s supporters, but no one was able to get their hands on it.
About 590,000 people put down a $100 deposit for the smartphone, which would ultimately sell for $499, reports IBTimes. Despite an advance of around $59 million, Trump Mobile has yet to ship a single unit to consumers.
There also doesn’t seem to be any sign that this will happen within a year.
A stretching timeline
The T1 was billed as a “Made in USA” smartphone, almost in response to the fact that Apple and others were building the iPhone and other smartphones in other countries. Shortly after its introduction and after much reassurance about its US-centric nature, the internet quickly determined that it was likely a rebadged budget Android device, made in China.
The research didn’t stop the surge in pre-orders for the device, even as Trump Mobile silently dropped the “Made in America” claim.
After failing to ship in late summer 2025, the release date was pushed to later in the year and then to early 2026. An April 2026 redesign of the Trump Mobile website removed the release date entirely, instead showing a link to “join the waitlist”.
Previous images of the legendary Trump Mobile T1
Reports of the delay involved a call center representative telling reporters that the T1 was in the “final stages of certification and field testing” in January 2026. There was apparently a shipping date in the first quarter of 2026, but that date has passed.
At one point, a representative blamed the 43-day federal government shutdown, although critics pointed out that such a claim had little impact on a private hardware producer.
Considerable doubt
While those who put down a deposit for the T1 wait patiently, they may never get the smartphone.
The April website update also included revised terms of service, which addressed the deposit system. The document states that the deposit does not guarantee that they will receive an assistive device.
Instead, he explains that the filing only provides “a conditional opportunity” if Trump Mobile actually puts the T1 up for sale. The deposit does not constitute a binding sales contract, does not lock in price, may change specifications before release, and is not even guaranteed to work over a telephone network.
At best, depositors paid $100 which could turn into a $100 credit for T1. That is, if it goes on sale.
If Trump Mobile decides to cancel T1 entirely, it will refund the original deposit amount. However, it will not be responsible for delays caused by issues such as “parts shortages or delays with regulators.”
Consumers can also submit a cancellation request before a sale is completed.
FTC radio silence
The glaring lack of progress has led some lawmakers to complain about the ordeal. This includes a request from Sen. Elizabeth Warren and other Democratic lawmakers to the Federal Trade Commission in January regarding the use of so-called “bait and switch tactics” and false advertising over the “Made in the USA” claim.
However, as of May 2026, the FTC has not confirmed the existence of such an investigation, or whether it will ever be opened.
Currently, 590,000 consumers have spent their money on a smartphone that is not “made in the USA” and might not even be made at all.
At best, they’ll get a smartphone with disappointing specs and bolstered by branding. Worst case scenario, the deposits are gone and consumers just get a costly lesson.