Hundreds of thousands of customers, predominantly people who affiliate with the so-called Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement, who paid $100 deposits for the Trump Organization’s T1 “Trump Phone,” launched in June 2025, remain without devices more than 10 months later.
The situation, which has been dominating social media threads and stories recently, is raising significant legal questions around consumer protection, refund policies, and advertising practices.
Promoted by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, the gold-colored smartphone initially promised delivery as early as August or September 2025, with claims of being built in the United States. As of May 2026, not a single confirmed T1 phone has been delivered to customers, despite estimates that around 590,000 people placed deposits, generating approximately $59 million for the venture.
The company has repeatedly delayed the release, with no firm new date announced.
Trump Mobile updated its terms and conditions in April 2026 to state that a deposit does not guarantee production or delivery of the device, does not create a binding contract for sale, and offers refunds primarily if the company cancels the project entirely.
Initial “Made in USA” marketing language was removed shortly after launch, replaced by vaguer claims, while advertised specifications such as screen size and RAM were reportedly downgraded.
Customer service has drawn criticism for unresponsiveness on refund requests from MAGA affiliates. The situation has prompted calls from Democratic lawmakers for a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigation into potential deceptive advertising and unfair business practices.
Legal observers note that such cases often implicate FTC rules on deceptive marketing, the Mail Order Rule regarding timely delivery and refunds, and state consumer protection laws.
While the company maintains deposits are refundable under certain conditions and continues to accept new pre-orders, frustrated customers have taken to social media expressing disappointment and demanding accountability.
