Reports of nearly 600,000 preorders for the Trump Mobile phone have circulated widely, creating a buzz on social media. However, scrutiny reveals a lack of credible evidence supporting this claim. The figure, suggesting a potential revenue of $60 million from $100 deposits per device, appears to stem from a single viral post and has raised questions about its authenticity.
The timing of these claims coincides with an open letter from Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren and others urging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate Trump Mobile for alleged false advertising. Critics argue that the supposed preorder figures are exaggerated, with some suggesting that few individuals would invest in the phone.
The origins of the 600,000 preorder figure trace back to an anonymous post on social media. A notable source for this number was found in a post from the press office of California Governor Gavin Newsom, which shared a screenshot of a tweet from a platform called Grok. This post claimed the preorder numbers were based on reports from credible outlets like Fortune, NPR, and The Guardian. However, a search of these publications reveals no mention of such figures.
Further investigation shows that the figure may have been misattributed. Reports from India’s Economic Times and Hindustan Times cited a more specific 590,000 preorders, attributing the information to an unspecified report from the Associated Press. However, a representative from the AP confirmed that their coverage had never included such numbers.
The Hindustan Times journalist who reported the figure described the citation as a “typo,” clarifying that the number originated from a viral social media post by the account Bricktop_NAFO. This account, which has over 99,000 followers, shared on January 11, 2024, that “590,000 idiots purchased Trump Mobile phones.” This post has since amassed 2.8 million views, contributing to the spread of misinformation.
Despite reaching out to the account owner for clarity and sourcing, there has been no response. The original figures, which appear to have taken on a life of their own, have been further propagated by various publications, including MSN.com and tech site Phone Arena, where the numbers are now presented as fact.
The impact of this misinformation is notable, as both Gemini and ChatGPT have confirmed the 600,000 preorder figure in their responses, misattributing it to the Associated Press and Phone Arena, respectively.
As for the actual number of preorders for the Trump Mobile phone, the company has not disclosed any specific figures. Attempts to obtain information directly from Trump Mobile’s press office have gone unanswered.
The situation serves as a reminder of how quickly misinformation can spread in the digital age, particularly through social media and automated platforms. Without verified data, the narrative surrounding Trump Mobile remains speculative, highlighting the importance of critical evaluation of sources in today’s media landscape.
