The latest claims surrounding the anticipated launch of the Trump Mobile phone suggest that nearly 600,000 preorders have been made, potentially generating $60 million in revenue for the company. However, there is currently no substantial evidence to support this figure. The situation raises questions about the credibility of the sources from which these claims originated.
This week, a social media post went viral, suggesting that Trump Mobile had secured a significant number of preorders, each requiring a $100 deposit. The timing of this information coincides with a recent open letter from Elizabeth Warren and other Democratic lawmakers, urging the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the company for alleged false advertising and deceptive practices. Critics are skeptical, with some suggesting that the number of consumers willing to invest in a Trump-branded phone may be lower than the claims indicate.
The figure of 600,000 appears to trace back to a viral post on social media, specifically an anonymous post on X, which is part of a broader trend of misinformation in the digital landscape. The initial source of this number seems to be a summary from Grok, which cited reports from reputable outlets such as Fortune, NPR, and The Guardian. However, a search through these publications reveals no mention of the claimed preorder figure.
In fact, two international publications, India’s Economic Times and Hindustan Times, reported a slightly different number of 590,000 preorders, attributing it to an unspecified report from the Associated Press. Upon inquiry, Lauren Easton, Vice President of Corporate Communications for the AP, clarified that their original stories did not include such a number.
The situation grew more complicated when I contacted the authors of the reports citing the AP. One writer from the Hindustan Times acknowledged the number as a typo and revealed that it had originated from a post by The Times of India. This post referenced a viral claim made by a meme account on X, which stated that “590,000 idiots purchased Trump’s Mobile phone.” This statement represents the earliest mention of the 590,000 figure found in the investigation thus far.
The meme account, known as Bricktop_NAFO, has gained considerable attention, with its post viewed 2.8 million times and shared over 8,000 times. The original post appears to have catalyzed the spread of this misinformation, eventually reaching even official channels, including Gavin Newsom’s press office.
Attempts to validate the preorder claims through the Trump Mobile press office have been unsuccessful. As of now, the company has not provided any official figures on the actual number of preorders. The lack of communication from Trump Mobile further complicates the narrative.
This incident serves as a reminder of the challenges posed by misinformation in the digital age. The propagation of unverifiable claims can easily lead to widespread acceptance, as evidenced by the number of reports that have cited the inflated preorder figures as fact. As it stands, the only certainty is the uncertainty surrounding the actual demand for the Trump Mobile phone.
The current landscape reflects the complexities of modern media, where social media posts can gain traction and be mistaken for credible news sources. With ongoing investigations and a lack of official confirmation, the fate of Trump Mobile remains unclear. For those with insights into the company or the phone itself, there is an invitation to share information securely.
