Donald Trump’s long-delayed $499 gold-colored smartphone has finally started shipping — but early buyers and reviewers say a surprising design issue has already raised eyebrows.
The device, called the Trump Mobile “T1,” was first announced last June by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump as part of a new wireless service tied to the Trump brand. It was promoted as an “all-American” product marking the 10-year anniversary of Donald Trump’s first presidential campaign.
Originally, the phone was expected to launch in August 2025, and the company even took $100 preorder deposits. However, its own terms and conditions suggested the launch was never guaranteed.
“A preorder deposit provides only a conditional opportunity if Trump Mobile later elects, in its sole discretion, to offer the Device for sale,” the terms stated, according to UNILAD.
“A deposit is not a purchase, does not constitute acceptance of an order, does not create a contract for sale, does not transfer ownership or title interest, does not allocate or reserve specific inventory, and does not guarantee that a Device will be produced or made available for purchase.”
Now that shipments are finally going out, users have spotted an unexpected issue. The gold phone’s back panel features an American flag design, but early reviewers say it appears to show only 11 stripes instead of the official 13 on the US flag — sparking debate and confusion about its design details and production standards.
The Trump Mobile team originally described the T1 as “MADE in America,” but later changed the wording to say it was “designed with American values in mind.”
Pat O’Brien, CEO of Trump Mobile, told USA Today that the phones are “assembled” in the US using components “primarily manufactured in America,” while also confirming strong demand and ongoing preorder shipments.
Experts who spoke to NBC News noted that the device closely resembles the HTC U24 Pro, a smartphone assembled in Taiwan.
Despite delays, the company says the rollout is continuing, with O’Brien stating the setbacks were “worth it” as the company delivers what it calls an “amazing product.”
