Almost precisely one month ago, I published an article on theverge.com drawing attention to an issue that, at the time, seemed temporary but has since become emblematic of a deeper uncertainty. That piece highlighted the curious case of the T1 Phone 8002 in its gold edition — a device colloquially dubbed the ‘Trump phone’ — which had failed to appear on the scheduled release date originally promised by its creators. Now, as another month passes, I find myself repeating the same inquiry, because the highly publicized phone remains conspicuously absent from the market.
For anyone who may have lost track of this saga, a quick refresher is in order. The T1 is presented as a mid-range Android smartphone distinguished by a garish, almost ostentatious shade of gold, one clearly designed to channel a sense of luxury and excess rather than subtle refinement. It was officially announced back in June, alongside a $47-per-month Trump Mobile wireless plan — a telecommunications venture launched under the umbrella of the Trump Organization. In the company’s promotional materials, expectations were set high: their press release promised eager customers an August debut. However, their own website contradicted this timeline, quietly listing September as the scheduled launch. The story shifted once again when an unnamed company spokesperson, speaking with USA Today, confirmed that the release had been pushed back even further to October, citing unspecified delays.
Now, as the end of October arrives, the situation has grown increasingly ambiguous. Trump Mobile has fallen almost completely silent across its communication channels. In fact, the brand’s official social media accounts have been dormant since August 28th — marking the date shortly after they posted, and hastily deleted, a questionably edited promotional image. The photo in question rather infamously depicted what was clearly a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, clumsily altered to appear as the Trump T1, and passed off to followers as a legitimate product render. Since then, the digital silence has only deepened, fueling speculation among would-be buyers and tech observers that something might be amiss.
To be fair, the company’s online storefront has long since abandoned any specific deadlines. For several months, the official product page has merely promised an eventual arrival ‘later this year’ — a vague timeline introduced around the same period when Trump Mobile also ceased asserting that the T1 would be manufactured domestically in the United States. This subtle revision both lowered expectations and provided the brand with a nominal grace period: two additional months to deliver the phone and maintain the illusion of punctuality, at least from a marketing perspective.
My own attempts to clarify the situation have proven fruitless. Last month, I reached out to the company requesting an official update regarding the T1’s release date, but no response ever arrived. A fresh inquiry sent more recently met the same fate — silence. To those less optimistic, this lack of engagement might appear to confirm suspicions that the long-awaited gold phone is nothing more than vaporware, a concept rather than a product. Yet, despite mounting doubts, I remain reluctantly hopeful. Perhaps that optimism is naive, but until definitive closure arrives, I’ll continue keeping watch. Place your bets now: will I be back another month from today, still asking the same question that lingers unanswered — where, exactly, is the Trump phone?
Sourse: https://www.theverge.com/news/810500/where-is-the-trump-phone
