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Colbert Slams Delayed, $499 Trump T1 Phone

5/22/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Stephen Colbert mocked the Trump Mobile “T1” phone on May 20 during the Late Show, announcing the device arrived after a nine-month delay.
Colbert noted the phone is assembled abroad despite promises of U.S. manufacturing, and the site says it is ‘designed with American values.’
He ridiculed $499 price and $47.45 plan, called it ‘this thing sucks,’ and quipped that a Trump item more disappointing after nine months was Eric Trump.

History

Historical Context

Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign championed “America First” trade, pledging to revive U.S. factories and cut imports; it spent only $10 million on primary ads while leaning on free media. The administration’s later trade policies, seen as falling short of those promises, were mocked in Stephen Colbert’s May 20 2024 satire of a $499 “Trump Mobile” phone made abroad, prompting FTC scrutiny of “Made in USA” labels.

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Story summary

Stephen Colbert mocked the Trump Mobile “T1” phone on May 20 during the Late Show, announcing the device arrived after a nine-month delay.
Colbert noted the phone is assembled abroad despite promises of U.S. manufacturing, and the site says it is ‘designed with American values.’
He ridiculed $499 price and $47.45 plan, called it ‘this thing sucks,’ and quipped that a Trump item more disappointing after nine months was Eric Trump.

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