“Trump Family Launches Controversial $499 Mobile Phone Service!”

What in the world of side hustles? The Trump Organization, amid all raised eyebrows about possible conflicts of interest, has announced their newest venture, which will probably ruffle some feathers! Say hello to Trump Mobile, folks. This new business venture allows the Trump family to license their brand to a mobile phone service, offering a smartphone that will cost you $499 and a monthly plan.

Eric Trump, who helms the Trump Organization, had a thing or two to say about the endeavor during its announcement on June 16. The intention, he explains, is to give consumers a phone that matches their values. In his words: “Hard-working Americans deserve a wireless service that’s affordable, reflects their values, and delivers reliable quality they can count on.”

In an interview, the younger Trump went further, stating that “eventually” Trump Mobile’s devices will all be manufactured stateside, thus supposedly “bringing manufacturing back.” However, when the first series of phones will be produced, whether in or out of the United States, remains unclear. A representative from the Trump Organization provided The Wall Street Journal with a comment, revealing that “manufacturing for the new phone will be in Alabama, California, and Florida.”

The first Trump Mobile phone, the T1 Phone, sports an eye-catching gold color and will make its foray into the market in August. T1 Mobile intends to run a US-established call center based in St. Louis, Missouri. However, it’s worth noting that neither President Trump nor Trump Mobile will be involved in the actual design or manufacturing of the phone. Another unnamed US company will be tasked with this challenge.

We’ve also got intel on the monthly service plan, dubbed The 47 Plan – a nod at Trump’s two terms in office, the 45th and the anticipated 47th. At a cost of $47.45, subscribers will enjoy unlimited calls, texts, data, free roadside assistance, and telehealth services. Android serves as the operating system, and a promotional image on the company’s website shows “Make America Great” featured prominently on the front, with an etched American flag on the back.

The explosive internet reaction to this news isn’t surprising. In The Shade Room’s comment section alone, there are over 3000 responses, and the buzz on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram’s platform, Threads, isn’t any quieter. Some reactions bristle with wit and irony while others seethe with incredulity.

Eric Trump also revealed during his press statement that the venture will partner with America’s three largest mobile network providers, hinting, perhaps, at Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, thereby limiting the hypothetical risk for the Trump family.

However, the flip side presents an interesting conundrum. Trump Mobile enters a market housing companies that the President has directly criticized. He bashed Apple just last month for its plan to manufacture most of its US iPhones in India, threatening the tech giant with a hefty 25% import tariff if they didn’t shift their production base home.

With this backdrop, the recent launch of Trump Mobile does re-ignite concerns about how President Trump will deal with growing competition or potential dissatisfaction surrounding their new venture, considering his prior use of the federal government to either reward allies or punish adversaries.

Meanwhile, the Trump Organization has been profiting quite handsomely from the President’s celebrity status, evident from the lucrative numbers shared in a recent financial disclosure report. The President has already made millions from “Save America” coffee table books, Trump watches, sneakers, and fragrances, and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight.

So, will you be picking up the new Trump Mobile T1 Phone, ladies and gents? Or will the potential drama and distrust surrounding the brand deter your consumer instincts? Let the phone wars begin!