Politics
Gavin Newsom Mocks Trump as Gold Trump Phones Face Delays
By Jake Beardslee · January 2, 2026
California Governor Gavin Newsom mocked President Donald Trump this week after reports surfaced that Trump-branded smartphones would be delayed months after their initial launch.
Trump Mobile, a cellular service unveiled by the Trump Organization in June, announced that shipments of its gold-colored smartphones are now expected to arrive near the end of January. The company attributed the delay largely to the federal government shutdown in November. The phones were initially marketed as being made in the United States, though the company has since softened that claim, now describing the devices as “American-proud.”
When CBS News reported on the delay, Newsom reacted on social media with a brief jab, writing: “You don’t say.”
The Trump-branded device, known as the T1 Phone, requires customers to place a $100 deposit toward its $499 retail price. The accompanying wireless plan — called “The 47 Plan” — costs $47.45 per month and is marketed as “a lifestyle bundle, a political statement, and a membership into a cultural movement,” as well as “a badge of loyalty and a way to show alignment with the sitting president.”
Criticism of the venture has mounted as delivery timelines continue to slip. In November, former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich weighed in on the delay, writing: “Remember when Trump’s sons announced a made-in-the-USA smartphone and a new wireless service, Trump Mobile? Three months later, the phone’s ship date keeps getting delayed with no explanation - although the company continues to collect $100 deposits. The grift never ends.”
While Trump Mobile promotes its forthcoming device as a patriotic alternative, customers are currently limited to purchasing second-hand smartphones, including Apple’s iPhone 14 and 15 models and Samsung’s Galaxy 23 and 24 devices.
The Trump Organization announced the venture earlier this year through Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, who stated in June that they had “partnered with some of the greatest people in the industry” to address what they described as “lackluster performance” in the mobile phone market. The company has emphasized that it is licensing the Trump name and is not directly involved in building cellular infrastructure.
Critics have raised ethical concerns about the Trump family’s entry into the telecommunications industry, noting that the sector is heavily regulated by the federal government — a situation that could present conflicts of interest given Donald Trump’s political role and influence.