At a Glance
- 11 Democratic lawmakers asked the FTC to investigate Trump Mobile’s unreleased T1 phone
- Customers paid $100 deposits in August; no phones have shipped
- Company quietly removed “Made in USA” claims from its website
Why it matters: Consumers may have been misled by advertising and left without the product they paid for.
Democratic lawmakers want federal regulators to determine whether Trump Mobile deceived consumers with promises of a U.S.-built phone that has yet to arrive.
Lawmakers Press FTC for Action
Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and 10 congressional colleagues sent a letter Wednesday night urging the Federal Trade Commission to open an investigation into Trump Mobile’s advertising and deposit practices.
The letter, first seen by News Of Fort Worth, asks the agency to examine:
- Whether accepting $100 deposits for phones never delivered amounts to consumer fraud
- Whether the original “Made in USA” marketing was false advertising
- Whether the company engaged in bait-and-switch tactics
Co-signers include Sens. Chris Van Hollen, Adam Schiff, Ed Markey and Reps. Robert Garcia, Doris Matsui, Maxwell Frost, Summer Lee, Greg Cesar, Jan Schakowsky and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Phone Promised but Not Shipped
Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump unveiled the T1 device at a June event in Trump Tower, promoting gold phones emblazoned with an American flag and a suite of conservative-branded mobile plans.
The website originally claimed the handset would be “Made in the USA,” but that language disappeared within weeks. The site now calls the design “American-proud” without specifying manufacturing origin.
Derrick M. Collins reported ordering a unit in August and receiving multiple revised delivery dates:
- November 13 – promised in October
- December – later blamed on “government shutdown”
- Q1 2026 – most recent target, described as “final stages of certification”
No customers have received devices.
State Scrutiny and Company Silence
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office signaled interest, posting on social media that the venture looks “like FRAUD!”
Neither Trump Mobile, the Trump Organization nor the FTC provided comment to News Of Fort Worth regarding the congressional letter, deposit refunds or production status.
Lawmakers warned that the FTC’s handling of the matter will test the commission’s independence and its core mission of protecting the public from deceptive practices.
