Trump Mobile once again delays the delivery date for its T1 cellphone, extending a series of missed deadlines since the device was first unveiled last summer. The T1 phone, announced by Trump Mobile in June, failed to meet its latest expected delivery window at the end of 2025, raising further questions about when—or if—it will finally reach customers.
According to a Trump Mobile customer service representative who spoke with USA TODAY, the company now expects the handset to launch in “the first quarter of this year.” The representative said the phone is currently undergoing the final stages of regulatory testing, a necessary step before it can be cleared for commercial release.
The T1 was opened for preorders immediately after its June 16 announcement, with early buyers initially promised shipment by August 2025. That date was later pushed back to October 2025. When October arrived, the product listing was quietly updated to read “later this year,” a description that remained on the company’s website as of January 13.
Both Financial Times and Fortune previously reported that Trump Mobile customer service staff attributed the delay to the federal government shutdown that began on October 1. According to Fortune, a representative told customers that work on the phone had to pause because activity on the Federal Communications Commission side was put on hold during the shutdown.
USA TODAY reached out to Trump Mobile and media representatives for the Trump Organization on January 13 seeking comment, but no immediate response was provided.
Industry Experts Voice Doubts Over Trump-Branded Device
From the outset, the T1 phone has drawn skepticism from technology analysts who question whether a newly launched brand can realistically deliver a competitive smartphone. Francisco Jeronimo, an analyst with International Data Corp., summed up the concerns in comments to the Associated Press, saying the company may be discovering that building a phone is far more complex than expected. “Let’s see if this thing comes to life or not,” he said.
The product has also faced scrutiny over its marketing claims. Early promotional materials described the T1 as “designed and built in the United States,” but the Financial Times later reported that this language was revised within weeks to say the device was “brought to life in the United States,” a change that fueled further debate.
Political commentary has followed the delay as well. In a January 12 post on X, the press office of California Governor Gavin Newsom reacted to news of the postponed launch by suggesting an investigation, echoing rhetoric often used by the Trump administration against its critics.
The T1 phone is just one of several consumer products tied to Donald Trump’s name and image, alongside items such as watches, cologne, and shoes. Critics argue these ventures are designed to capitalize on his political brand, while supporters see them as extensions of his business persona. For now, the repeated delays have left potential buyers waiting—and watching—to see whether the T1 phone ultimately delivers on its promises.
