Update on Trump Mobile

It just keeps getting worse.

By: Austin Abbring

May 19, 2026

I briefly discussed the Trump Organization's blatant grift, including the $500 smartphones they promised to consumers, in one of my previous essays covering the administration's overt corruption. Well, unsurprisingly, things have gotten worse for consumers who made their $100 deposit for the phones. 

Towards the end of April, Trump Mobile announced an update to its terms and conditions. “A pre-order deposit provides only a conditional opportunity if Trump Mobile elects, in its sole discretion, to offer the device for sale. A deposit is not a purchase, does not constitute acceptance of an order, does not create a contract for sale, does not transfer ownership or title interest, does not allocate or reserve specific inventory, and does not guarantee that a device will be produced or made available for purchase.” (CBS) This announcement comes following consumer backlash over the mobile device’s continued delayed shipment. It has been nearly a year since consumers made their pledge for the product.

Additionally, the phones do not appear to be completely American-made as previously promised. Trump Mobile CEO Pat O’Brien explained that the phones would use domestic components and that all assembly would take place within the United States. That has not occurred, as only the final assembly of test devices has taken place domestically. I expect that trend to continue. Trump Mobile really knows how to kick a person while they are down. Around 600,000 consumers have made their initial investment, generating approximately $59 million in revenue for the phone company. As of this writing, no customer has received their smartphone. 

While this might not be the most unscrupulous act by a Donald Trump enterprise, I find it a perfect encapsulation of what Trump is all about. He is a complete fraud who attempts to cloak himself as an “every-man” who loves his country and its people, and as an efficacious businessperson. He veneers himself in this manner to deceive Americans in order to feed his narcissism and enrich himself. He is a product of late-stage capitalism. His proven track record of being a fraud should not be understated, as this farce will certainly be added to this nefarious list:

- The hundreds of lawsuits he and his companies have faced over not paying contractors.

- Trump University, which defrauded its students.

- The 34 felony convictions over falsifying business records to cover up his affair with adult film star Stormy Daniels

- The conflicts of interest in his pay-to-play cryptocurrency scheme.

- The Donald Trump Foundation, his charity, which dissolved due to self-dealing and multifarious behaviors, including using the charitable funds in private business disputes. 

- The Trump Organization and its conviction of nearly two dozen counts of tax fraud and falsification of business records.

- half a dozen business bankruptcies.

My hope is that the half a million people who were duped will now wake up and understand what this man is all about. They should be apoplectic.