Trump phone release date: gold T1 handset is finally shipping after months of delays

If, for some reason, you’ve been waiting for an update on the Trump phone release date, you’ll be pleased to hear that the gold T1 smartphone is starting to ship after lengthy delays. Though I doubt we’ll see it on our list of the best smartphones any time soon.

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The $499 Android handset – launched by the Trump Organization under its Trump Mobile venture – began shipping its first preorder units on 13 May, USA Today reports.

Originally announced back in June 2025, the Trump Phone release date was set with an August target. That slipped several times, first to November, then December, before reportedly moving again into early 2026. During that time, social media speculation grew around whether the phone would ever actually launch. Now, though, Trump Mobile says at least some customers are finally getting their devices.

The T1, as you’ve probably guessed, is far from subtle. It arrives in a bright gold finish with an American flag on the rear, and runs Android with access to the Google Play Store. It packs a 6.78-inch display, fingerprint sensor, AI face unlock, triple rear cameras, a 50MP selfie camera, and – in a move that’ll probably please some old-school users – a headphone jack.

Trump Mobile, naturally, is also offering its own cellular plan alongside the handset. The so-called 47 Plan  costs $47.45 per month – referencing Donald Trump serving as both the 45th and 47th US president – and includes unlimited talk, text, and data, along with extras like roadside assistance.

The wider business itself operates as an MVNO, or mobile virtual network operator. That means Trump Mobile doesn’t own the wireless infrastructure underneath its service, instead leasing network access from established carriers – a common approach used by brands looking to launch phone services without building their own nationwide networks.

There are still plenty of unanswered questions, mind. Trump Mobile hasn’t revealed how many people preordered the T1, and the company only recently updated its preorder terms to clarify that it “does not guarantee that a Device will be produced or made available for purchase”. Make of that, what you will.

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Esat Dedezade Contributor

About

Esat has been a gadget fan ever since his tiny four-year-old brain was captivated by a sound-activated dancing sunflower. From there it was a natural progression to a Sega Mega Drive, a brief obsession with hedgehogs, and a love for all things tech. After 7 years as a writer and deputy editor for Stuff, Esat ventured out into the corporate world, spending three years as Editor of Microsoft's European News Centre. Now a freelance writer, his appetite for shiny gadgets has no bounds. Oh, and like all good human beings, he's very fond of cats.