Trump’s gold smartphone company just hit another roadblock

Supporters of President Donald Trump eager to buy one of his branded smartphones will now have to wait a little longer.

The Daily Beast reported Monday that the official release of Trump's gold smartphone — dubbed the T1 — has now been pushed back to March. This marks the third delay that customers have had to endure since the phones were first announced in June of 2025.

Initially, customers were told that the $499 smartphone (which required a $100 down payment to pre-order) would be ready by August of 2025. Then, Trump Mobile announced that the phones would be released before the end of 2025. But in December, the T1 phones had been delayed once again, with the company blaming a slowdown in shipping due to the government shutdown last fall.

The T1 phone has been accused of marketing to customers using "deceptive practices," according to a complaint filed with the Federal Trade Commission by Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) last month. The Democratic lawmakers took issue with Trump's company claiming that the phones would be made in the United States — a claim the company's website deleted within days of the first T1 announcement.

“To claim that a product is ‘Made in USA,’ marketers must meet a very specific set of FTC standards, violations of which come with civil penalties," read the letter from the two lawmakers.

Trump Mobile is renting its network coverage from T-Mobile, which requires specific certification. According to the Beast, the certification process "involves a consultation, a series of compatibility and functionality tests, and a final review."

Todd Weaver, who is the founder and CEO of phone company Purism (which is the United States' sole smartphone manufacturer), told NBC News last year that it is effectively impossible to not source at least some parts from China. Weaver said a certain crystal that powers a smartphone's motherboard is only available in China.

"There just isn’t a company yet providing that single crystal," Weaver said.