I had a 2025 bingo card, and the president of the United States of America officially launching an MVNO certainly wasn't on it. Yep, it's not a joke. Trump Mobile is a thing. It certainly isn't going to be competing with the big three carriers in the US, instead operating as an MVNO, on the same level as Mint or US Mobile.
Oh, and the mobile carrier isn't the only thing. I suppose the presidential family determined that if they could get a whole cellular service up and running, a smartphone would be hardly a feat. In comes the Trump Mobile T1 Phone, as well, and I'll certainly give my unfiltered thoughts regarding it in a little bit, so let's get into it.
As the 47th President, Trump's New Mobile Service Costs Only $47 Monthly
This year is turning out weird, as I didn't envision myself writing about a mobile carrier that is so unapologetically Trump-branded. It's an MVNO, which seems to run on the networks for all three major carriers in the US, which is a good thing. I can't get past the America and Trump branding everywhere, though. It's rather heavy-handed. Regardless, the carrier is here, 10 years after POTUS started the campaign for his last term.
As the 47th president of the USA, the only plan that Trump Mobile currently has to offer is called “The 47 Plan”—again, pretty heavy-handed. Oh, and that plan will only cost $47.45 a month (because he was the 47th AND the 45th president. Get it?). For that price, what do you get? Here's a list:
- Unlimited talk and text
- Unlimited data; throttled after 20GB
- International calling to 100 countries (though other sections of the website say 200 countries)
- Device protection from a third-party provider
- 24/7 roadside assistance from Drive America
- Telehealth and pharmacy services, including unlimited telehealth access by video or voice, and prescription discounts
Those last few perks are rather interesting, but whether they all come together to make the $47.45 price tag worth it is up to you. At the very least, the plan provides the basics that the average MVNO offers.
The Trump T1 Phone Is a Poorly-Priced Gilded Specimen
While I might not be the best person to scrutinize The 47 Plan, I'm certainly well-equipped to tear apart the “T1 Phone”. Yep, Trump Mobile will come with its own smartphone option too, and it'll be launching in August.
Judging this book by its cover, I think it is far from pretty. Its design is a poor imitation of an iPhone, and if that wasn't tacky enough, the gold and streaked metallic finish doesn't help. Don't forget the massive “T1” and the large American flag stamped on the back panel. The device will cost $499, with a $100 down payment, and here's what you'll be getting on the paper for that price.
| Trump Mobile T1 Phone | |
| Screen | 6.78-inch AMOLED, 120Hz refresh |
| Storage | 256GB, expandable |
| Memory | 12GB |
| Rear Cameras | 50MP main + 2MP macro + 2MP depth |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP |
| Battery | 5,000mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired |
| Software | Android 15 |
| Miscellaneous | USB Type-C 2.0, in-screen fingerprint reader, face unlock, 3.5mm headphone jack |
There's a lot of info that isn't being supplied, most notably the chipset. However, with it being omitted, I think we can agree that it is very likely nothing spectacular. For $499, this spec sheet feels three years too late for a midranger. But not everyone scrutinizes phones the way we do, so I won't be surprised to see people buy it.
As a parting note, what do you think the chances are that this phone is just a rebranded version of a device from a lower-tier Chinese OEM? It is allegedly “Made in the USA”, but I'm not sure that I'm convinced, especially as I only saw that declared on one section of the website. If there's any Chinese influence, that'd be funny considering Trump's heavy anti-China stance.
