By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON, May 19 (Reuters) – U.S. Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat and a former telecommunications executive, said Tuesday the Trump Organization is making misleading claims about its long-delayed mobile phone.
The Trump Organization, founded by President Donald Trump and managed by his adult sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., launched the mobile venture in June last year under a trademark licensing arrangement. The organization pushed back the T1 phone’s release from August to October and is starting to ship this month.
Some have questioned the feasibility of manufacturing a low-cost smartphone in the U.S. Warner said “the $499 T1 phone, the ostensibly ‘Made in America’ cell phone, now appears to be a ‘Made in China’ phone available from online sellers for about $175.”
The Trump Organization did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Warner raised concerns that Trump Mobile would not honor all customer pre-orders for the phone, despite collecting deposits.
Warner questioned Trump Mobile’s “47 Plan,” which is advertised as “Unlimited Talk, Text & Data,” citing a number of qualifiers, limitations, and disclaimers – though it explicitly includes unlimited calls to Russia.
Trump Mobile entered the crowded U.S. wireless market as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) offering services through existing carrier infrastructure at a monthly price of $47.45, a reference to Trump serving as the 45th and 47th U.S. president.
Warner said the fee was much more expensive than for equivalent-level service from other carriers and MVNOs, which is as low as $20 per month.
Warner said Liberty Mobile Wireless, the company that facilitates Trump Mobile’s cellular network operations, itself charges $40 per month for its highest-tier prepaid plan.
The Trump Mobile phone was initially billed as “designed and built in the United States” but is now labeled as assembled in the U.S.
Warner wants the company to disclose the locations and companies involved in design, manufacturing and assembly of the phone components.
“Can Trump Mobile truthfully state that the T1 phone was manufactured with no components originating from” China, he asked.
Warner also asked what apps are pre-loaded on the T1 phone and if Trump Mobile selected those apps.
The launch has drawn scrutiny from ethics experts and lawmakers because the venture uses the Trump name while the president remains in office.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by David Gregorio)
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