A year after followers of President Donald Trump put down $100 deposits for a Trump-branded gold phone, not one has shipped, and a recent change in the fine print has some worried they may never arrive.
Last month, the company behind Trump Mobile, T1 Mobile LLC, quietly updated its preorder terms and conditions to clarify that it “does not guarantee that a Device will be produced or made available for purchase.”
“A preorder deposit provides only a conditional opportunity if Trump Mobile later elects, in its sole discretion, to offer the Device for sale,” the most recent terms, dated April 6, read.
Purchasers like tech content creator Carter Ryan, who goes by CarterPCs online, were quick to call out the company’s vague language.
“I’m paying $100 for the chance to maybe give you more money in the future, if you decide to make the product that I’m paying for in the first place?” he said in a post on TikTok.
T1 Mobile and the Trump Organization did not immediately respond to Fortune‘s request for comment. A spokesperson for the White House referred any inquiries to the Trump Organization.
The terms change comes as the $500 phone, dubbed the “T1,” has had its release pushed back several times. The phone was first set to ship to depositors in August 2025. The launch was then pushed to November, then December. At the end of last year, customer service representatives for the company told Fortune the phone would arrive in “mid to late January,” and that it was delayed because of the government shutdown at the time.
There is currently no release date for the phone on the Trump Mobile website, although the Verge reported last month that the company moved closer to release by getting its PTCRB certification, which is a requirement for any phone that aims to launch in the U.S. and utilize major networks. The phone has also reportedly received authorization from the Federal Communications Commission, the outlet reported.
The “T1” Trump phone, whose gold shell bears an American flag and the name “Trump Mobile,” has been redesigned three times. The device will run on the Android operating system and feature a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen, a 50-megapixel front and back camera, and both a fingerprint sensor and “AI face unlock,” according to the Trump Mobile website.
The phone, which was originally advertised as being made in America, will now be “designed with American values in mind,” the website states. While the Trump phone remains unreleased, Trump Mobile is selling refurbished Samsung phones and iPhones that connect to its network and its so-called 47 Plan—a $47.45-per-month service that pays homage to Trump’s distinction as both the 45th and 47th president.
A year has passed since supporters of former President Donald Trump made $100 deposits for a Trump-branded gold phone, but none have been shipped as of yet. Recent changes to the fine print of the preorder terms have raised concerns among depositors that they may never receive their devices. The company behind the product, T1 Mobile LLC, updated its terms to clarify that it “does not guarantee that a Device will be produced or made available for purchase.” This means that the $100 deposit only provides a conditional opportunity for customers to buy the phone if the company decides to offer it in the future.
Tech content creator Carter Ryan, known as CarterPCs, expressed frustration over the vague language of the preorder agreement, questioning the rationale behind paying $100 for a mere chance to possibly purchase the product later. The Trump Organization, along with T1 Mobile, has not responded to inquiries regarding the situation.
The phone, named the “T1,” was initially expected to ship in August 2025 but has faced multiple delays, with the release date pushed back to November and December. Customer service representatives previously stated that the device would arrive in « mid to late January, » attributing delays to a government shutdown. Currently, there is no specified release date on the Trump Mobile website, although reports indicate that the company has moved closer to launching the phone by obtaining PTCRB certification, which is necessary for phones entering the U.S. market, as well as authorization from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The T1 phone, adorned with a gold exterior that features an American flag and the name “Trump Mobile,” has undergone three redesigns. It is set to operate on the Android operating system and will reportedly include a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen, a 50-megapixel camera on both the front and back, and biometric features such as a fingerprint sensor and AI face unlock. While the phone was initially marketed as being made in America, the current messaging on the website indicates that it will instead be “designed with American values in mind.”
In the meantime, while waiting for the T1 phone, Trump Mobile is offering refurbished Samsung and iPhones that are compatible with its network and its service plan, dubbed the 47 Plan, which costs $47.45 per month—a nod to Trump’s distinction as both the 45th and 47th president.
The ongoing uncertainty surrounding the T1 phone raises questions about the future of the product and the company’s commitment to delivering on its promises to supporters. As depositors await further updates, the lack of clarity and the series of delays continue to fuel skepticism about whether the Trump-branded phone will ever become a reality.
