The moment the idea of a Trump-branded phone was unleashed upon the world, people had questions. For instance: Why? Who wants this? Really? Gold? And, did I actually die in my sleep/have I really been so bad of a person to deserve this level of hell? But probably one of the biggest of all those very big and very real questions was: Will this thing actually ever see the light of day? This is a question to which we finally have an answer… allegedly.
According to Trump Mobile CEO Pat O’Brien, who spoke to USA Today, T1 phones are definitely, for sure, shipping this week. The questions of what day, how many, or exactly when anyone misguided enough to actually buy one of these things can expect to hold a T1 in their hands are still unclear, but “this week” is something. O’Brien tells USA Today that all preordered phones should be delivered in the “next several weeks.” Personally, I’ll believe it when I see it.
For context, the Trump phone has already been repeatedly delayed. It was originally slated for release in August 2025, following its announcement in June of last year. After that, it was pushed to October and eventually to 2026. All of these delays, mind you, came after people (what people, I do not know) put down $100 deposits for a phone that has now been delayed for nearly a year.
The good news is that, despite what a roller coaster the T1 has been—from its various design changes to Trump Mobile’s pivot into selling refurbished iPhones and Samsung Galaxy phones—it’s likely that very few people actually bothered to preorder this thing. Trump Mobile has yet to release any numbers, despite having been asked more than once. I can’t imagine that too many people will want to trade in their perfectly functional iPhone for a… well, whatever the T1 is. So, little harm, little foul? I guess? Still, I’m morbidly curious to see just how bad of a deal the T1 is if/when real units finally make their way into the real world, and it looks like the anticlimax is finally upon us.
