The Trump family has unveiled a new venture into the U.S. telecommunications market with the launch of Trump Mobile, a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) offering nationwide wireless service and a branded $499 (approx. Ksh.64,000) golden smartphone.
Announced at Trump Tower in Manhattan, the new service is being marketed as a patriotic, all-American alternative to mainstream mobile providers. The initiative is part of a licensing deal that allows T1 Mobile LLC to use the “Trump” brand name, though the Trump Organization has stated it will not be involved in product design, manufacturing, or service delivery.
The subscription-based service will operate using existing infrastructure from the three dominant U.S. carriers, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Monthly plans will cost $47.45 (around Ksh.6,100), a symbolic reference to Donald Trump’s current role as the 47th President of the United States.
According to Donald Trump Jr., the offering will go beyond basic mobile service. “We are introducing a full package where people can get telemedicine, roadside assistance, and international texting, all bundled into one flat fee,” he said.
A key highlight of the launch is a sleek, gold-colored smartphone claimed to be designed and built in the U.S., though no manufacturing partner has been disclosed. Eric Trump hinted that the first batch, expected by August, may not be made domestically, citing future plans for U.S. production. Industry analysts remain skeptical about the feasibility of building such a phone in the U.S. at the $499 price point, given the country’s limited smartphone manufacturing infrastructure.
Michael Ashley Schulman, an investment strategist, noted that MVNOs represent a small and often volatile share of the market. “Unless Trump Mobile reaches at least a million subscribers, the financial impact will be minimal,” he said.
Despite the announcement’s bold claims, critics argue it is another example of the Trump family using political influence to enrich private business. Harvard Law Professor Lawrence Lessig said, “No one who’s been paying attention could miss that President Trump sees the presidency as a vehicle to grow his family’s wealth.”
Financial disclosures released last week revealed Trump earned over $600 million from licensing, crypto projects, and other ventures by the end of 2024, a figure likely to grow with this latest initiative.
The Trump Organization has a history of brand-licensing efforts, some of which, such as Trump Vodka, Trump Steaks, and Trump University, ended in failure. Whether Trump Mobile can defy that trend remains to be seen.
Written By Rodney Mbua
