Trump Mobile, the wireless venture backed by the Trump Organization, has postponed the delivery of its first-ever smartphone, extending a series of delays that have followed the project since its announcement earlier this year. The company says the latest setback is linked to the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, which it claims has disrupted regulatory processes and shipments tied to the device’s rollout.
Customer service representatives told Fortune that the gold-colored T1 smartphone, priced at US$499, will no longer ship before the end of the year as previously indicated. Instead, customers have been informed to expect delivery in mid to late January 2026. The company has not issued a public statement outlining a revised official launch date.
According to Trump Mobile, the shutdown has affected activity at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), forcing pauses in approvals required for the handset. “The T1 has been delayed due to the government shutdown. They had to pause everything on the FCC side of things,” a customer service representative said, adding that the price of the phone remains unchanged.
Trump Mobile was unveiled in June as a licensing venture that uses the Trump brand to market wireless services and a branded Android device. The T1 smartphone is tied to “The 47 Plan,” a US$47.45 monthly mobile package offering 5G service with unlimited talk, text, and data. The pricing is a clear political nod to Donald Trump’s status as the 45th and 47th U.S. president.
From the outset, the project was framed as both a commercial product and a symbolic push for domestic manufacturing. Early promotional materials described the handset as “built in the United States,” echoing Trump’s long-standing criticism of Apple and other manufacturers for producing devices overseas. However, industry analysts quickly questioned whether a fully U.S.-made smartphone could be delivered at the $499 price point, noting that even major manufacturers source the majority of components globally.
The launch timeline has steadily slipped. Initial plans pointed to an August release, which was later pushed to October and then to a broader promise of delivery by the end of the year. In recent weeks, Trump Mobile’s website has quietly removed specific release dates and “Made in USA” language, according to reports from NBC News and People. In the meantime, the company has begun selling refurbished devices, including Apple’s iPhone 15 and Samsung’s Galaxy S24, as alternative offerings.
Trump Mobile operates as a mobile virtual network operator, relying on existing U.S. carrier infrastructure rather than building its own network. Service is delivered through Liberty Mobile Wireless, while customer support is handled by Ensurety Ventures, an insurance firm based in Missouri. The Trump-branded operation itself is run from Trump Tower in Miami, and several executives involved in the launch come from backgrounds outside the traditional smartphone manufacturing industry.
While the company attributes the delay to the federal shutdown, it has not provided detailed explanations of how production or logistics have been affected. Industry observers note that government shutdowns can slow regulatory approvals and customs processing, but they often leave much of the private manufacturing sector operating, limiting their overall impact on consumer electronics launches.
For customers who have already placed a US$100 deposit to preorder the T1 smartphone, uncertainty remains. Some buyers report receiving only basic confirmations and general assurances, with no firm shipping date or detailed updates on when the device will finally arrive.
