Trump Mobile is still teasing its mysterious T1 Phone, but once again, the company has leaned on someone else’s design. After months of using suspiciously gold iPhones in its marketing, the latest promotional shot swaps in a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, complete with a Spigen case that still has the logo visible. The only thing new is a coat of fake gold paint and a slapped-on T1 badge.
From iPhone lookalike to S25 Ultra clone
The company’s recent ad on X promised that “the wait is almost over” for the T1, but the image left little to the imagination. It was instantly recognizable as a render of the S25 Ultra, not the custom phone Trump Mobile claimed to be building. Even accessory maker Spigen spotted its own case in the shot and mocked the brand directly in a reply that summed up the stunt in three words: “bro what.”
Donald Trump has officially established his own operator brand. This development could change the balance in the mobile sector.
Launch promises keep shifting
Trump Mobile initially claimed the T1 would launch in August, then September, but its site now lists no date at all. The messaging around the phone has also shifted. Early statements said it would be made in the United States. Now the marketing only promises “American hands behind every device,” a vaguer line that avoids the bold claim of full domestic production.
The T1 Phone keeps shrinking
Specs have not been consistent either. When first announced, the phone was described with a 6.78 inch display. The latest round of marketing now pegs the size at 6.25 inches. The rest of the features remain a mystery, beyond the brand’s repeated attempts to tie the device to patriotic themes and luxury aesthetics.
The biggest problem is simple. Every official render of the T1 has turned out to be someone else’s phone, whether it was a gold iPhone, a Samsung flagship, or now a photo complete with another company’s case. Until Trump Mobile shows the actual hardware, the T1 Phone is little more than a name attached to borrowed images.
