The Trump family makes a high-profile entry into the U.S. telecommunications market! "Presidential Phone" priced at $499, with a monthly fee of $47.45

The Trump Organization announced on Monday that it will launch a smartphone priced at $499 and a mobile service plan called "Trump Mobile" in September. The project was announced at Trump Tower in Manhattan, and the service will be provided through the networks of three national wireless carriers. However, the identities of the family partners and the financial details of the authorization agreement have not yet been disclosed. According to information on the company's official website, "Trump Mobile" will offer a monthly plan for $47.45, which includes unlimited calls, texts, and data, as well as roadside assistance and "telehealth and pharmacy benefits." The company will also launch a smartphone called the "T1," which features a gold metal casing engraved with the American flag design, priced at $499. Media reports indicate that this new business is another example of the Trump business empire monetizing its brand through its association with the current presidential identity. The name of the mobile service, "The 47 Plan," and the monthly price of $47.45 both allude to Trump: he was the 45th president and is currently the 47th. Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., stated: "We will launch a complete suite of products, allowing users to access telehealth, roadside assistance, and unlimited texting to 100 countries worldwide for a unified monthly fee on their phones." Claims to be Made in America; Experts Say It Can't Be Sold for Just $499 According to images released by the company, the newly launched gold-cased smartphone has a sleek design and is claimed to be designed and manufactured in the United States. However, media reports indicate that despite the many tech brands produced in the U.S., the country has virtually no large-scale smartphone manufacturing capability due to high labor costs, complex supply chains, and reliance on imported components. Eric Trump, the son of Trump, hinted on a podcast on Monday that the first batch of phones may not be produced in the U.S., but stated that "ultimately all phones will be made in America." Screenshots of the phone displayed on the website also feature Trump's campaign slogan "Make America Great Again." According to the official website, the T1 phone runs on Android 15, has a 6.8-inch AMOLED screen, a 16-megapixel selfie camera, a 50-megapixel main camera, 12GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. Currently, the U.S. smartphone market is extremely saturated and competitive, with Apple and Samsung dominating. Almost all models available on the market are manufactured overseas, primarily in China, South Korea, India, and Vietnam. Only one American company, Purism, produces phones domestically, with its Liberty phone priced at a staggering $1999. Aside from the casing being imported from China, all components and systems are developed and assembled in the U.S. Purism CEO Todd Weaver pointed out that local manufacturing at this price point is nearly impossible to achieve "If Trump's phone claims to be made in the U.S. and priced at only $499, such a statement is likely just 'vaporware.'" Since 2024, Trump and his associates have profited over $600 million Like other products launched during Trump's political career (such as watches, sneakers, and the Bible), this telecommunications business is primarily conducted through brand licensing partnerships. The disclaimer at the bottom of the website states: "Trump Mobile and its products and services are not designed, developed, manufactured, distributed, or sold by the Trump Organization or any of its affiliates or executives." According to media reports, despite ethical concerns raised about Trump's brand licensing and merchandise dealings in recent years, he and his family continue to expand businesses that generate substantial income. According to financial disclosures released last Friday, Trump has profited over $600 million in 2024 from brand licensing, cryptocurrency projects, golf courses, and other businesses, much of which was earned before his term began. Trump's related cryptocurrency projects have since generated hundreds of millions in revenue. However, the fees for the "47 Plan" are slightly higher compared to other mainstream carriers. For example, Verizon's budget brand Visible offers an unlimited plan for just $25 per month, while Mint Mobile's one-year unlimited plan costs $30 per month. The Trump Mobile website claims that this plan "has the same coverage as the three major U.S. national mobile service providers" and provides "customer service centers located in the U.S." However, when media outlets called their customer service, they were refused the specific address of the customer service center for "security reasons." It is currently unclear who operates this plan. The U.S. wireless market is dominated by Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, which hold over 95% market share. In recent years, the virtual mobile network operator (MVNO) model has become increasingly popular, focusing on niche user markets. For example, actor Ryan Reynolds invested in and endorsed the budget brand Mint Mobile, which was later acquired by T-Mobile for $1.35 billion. However, analysts point out that such projects are difficult to profit from. Michael Ashley Schulman, Chief Investment Officer at Running Point Capital Advisors, stated: "MVNOs account for only 3-4% of wireless subscriptions in the U.S., with high customer churn rates. If Trump Mobile cannot break the million-user threshold, its financial impact can be ignored."