A gold-plated phone and a political firestorm. The Trump Organization has launched Trump Mobile, a new wireless service branded with President Donald Trump’s name and promoted by his son, Donald Trump Jr., as a product for “real Americans.”
The service includes a flashy $499 gold-colored smartphone, though critics question whether the product is more symbol than substance.
The pricing has also raised eyebrows. The monthly fee — $47.45 — is a not-so-subtle nod to Trump being both the 45th and 47th president.
Despite claims of U.S. manufacturing, experts say producing the device domestically by August is nearly impossible. Even Eric Trump has acknowledged that the phone’s American-made label may be more aspirational than accurate.
Trump Mobile piggybacks on major carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile, but what’s different is the political entanglement.
A sitting president launching a personal brand in a heavily regulated industry while still writing the rules? It seems more like self-service than public service.
