Trump Mobile copying Obama's phone strategy? Here's how the two plans are different

President Donald Trump and his family announced a new line of business in partnership with three major US carriers

Published on: Jun 16, 2025, 23:32:18 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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President Donald Trump and his family announced a new line of business in partnership with three major US carriers. On Monday, the Trump Organization announced Trump Mobile, which will offer 5G service with an unlimited plan priced at $47.45 per month.

Donald Trump (R) announced a new line of business - Trump Mobile (Getty Images via AFP)

Customers will also have an option to switch to Trump Mobile’s T1 Mobile service using their current phone. Trump Mobile plans to release the ‘T1 Phone’ in August. It has been described as ‘a sleek, gold smartphone engineered for performance and proudly designed and built in the United States for customers who expect the best from their mobile carrier’.

“Trump Mobile is going to change the game. We’re building on the movement to put America first, and we will deliver the highest levels of quality and service. Our company is based right here in the United States because we know it’s what our customers want and deserve," Trump Jr said in a statement.

Is Trump copying Obama's mobile strategy?

Lifeline Assistance, also known as 'Obama Phone'

A federal program, started in 1985 under Reagan and expanded to cell phones in 2008 under Bush, provides subsidized phone service to low-income Americans to ensure access to communication for jobs, emergencies, and connectivity, per factcheck.org. It gained the “Obama Phone” nickname due to its growth during Obama’s presidency (2009–2017), peaking at 20 million users, per obamaphone.com.

It offers a free basic smartphone with 250–unlimited minutes, texting, and limited data (hundreds of MBs, varying by provider like SafeLink Wireless), or a $9.25/month subsidy ($34.25 on Tribal lands) for phone or broadband.

“If while president, Obama came out with his own phone, y’all would lose your damn minds. Trump does it and you’re all,” one person wrote on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.

“MAGA logic: When Obama gave people free phones it was bad. When Trump sells you a phone for $500 plus $600/yr service it is good. We live in the worst timeline. 🤡🤡🤡” another one added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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