Trump's $499 'phone scam'? 590,000 buyers left empty-handed as cheap Temu alternative surfaces

A fresh controversy is brewing on X (formerly Twitter) after a viral post by prominent pro-Ukraine commentator and meme account Bricktop_NAFO (@Bricktop_NAFO) alleged that hundreds of thousands of people paid for US President Donald Trump–branded mobile phones that have yet to materialise.

The claim, shared on X, alleges that 590,000 buyers purchased the so-called “Trump Phone” priced at $499, with no confirmed deliveries so far.Bricktop tweeted, "590,000 idiots purchased Trumps Mobile phone that went on sale. Not a single person has received it. Trump started taking money in June 2025. With a price of $499, they claimed it would ship in August/September 2025 The same phone and spec was found on Temu for $45. (sic)"

Orders taken months ago, shipping deadlines missed

According to the viral post, customers began placing orders in June 2025, after promotional material suggested the phone would ship by August or September 2025. Bricktop alleged that “not a single person has received it”, sparking widespread frustration, mockery and concern online as buyers questioned whether the product was ever ready for mass distribution.The allegation has reignited broader debates around Trump-branded consumer ventures, a space that has historically ranged from real estate and media to merchandise and collectibles.

Critics argue that the phone episode, if substantiated, reflects a familiar pattern of hype-driven monetisation of Trump’s loyal base.

$499 Trump phone vs $45 Temu lookalike

What has fuelled the backlash is the claim that the same phone with identical specifications is allegedly available on Chinese e-commerce platform Temu for just $45. The outrage raises questions about private labelling, pricing ethics and transparency. Tech commentators note that rebranded low-cost Android devices are common in white-label manufacturing.

However, the scale of the alleged price markup, nearly tenfold, has intensified scrutiny and questions around transparency, branding ethics and consumer trust.The allegations have reopened debates around Trump-branded consumer ventures, which critics say rely heavily on hype and loyalty marketing. Supporters, however, have dismissed the claims as politically motivated attacks amplified by anti-Trump online communities, arguing that no verified shipment data has been publicly released yet.

Silence from Trump camp raises consumer protection concerns

So far, there has been no official confirmation of delivery timelines, shipment data, manufacturing disclosures or refunds and neither Trump nor companies linked to the phone have publicly responded to the specific allegations circulating on X. Consumer watchdogs and legal analysts note that if large numbers of customers indeed paid months in advance without receiving a product, the issue could raise consumer protection and refund compliance concerns, depending on jurisdiction and contractual terms on the terms of sale.The Trump Phone saga highlights how modern political branding now intersects with e-commerce, influencer culture and meme-driven virality. What may have started as a niche merchandise launch has quickly evolved into a digital flashpoint, shaped by screenshots, crowd-sourced investigations and online outrage.Until verified delivery data or official statements emerge, the story remains fluid. For thousands of alleged buyers, the question remains simple: where is the phone and where did the money go?