This video details a user's multi-day, "comically long" experience signing up for and testing the "Trump mobile" cellular service. The process was fraught with website errors, confusing activation steps, high telecom taxes (over 30%), and inconsistent customer service. While the service ultimately activated on the T-Mobile network (displaying "Trump 5G" in the status bar) and initially supported premium features like visual voicemail, Wi-Fi calling, personal hotspot, RCS, and group/picture messaging, a critical flaw was discovered: after exceeding the 20GB high-speed data cap, internet access was completely shut off, rendering data-reliant features non-functional, unlike typical plans that merely throttle speeds.
Signing Up for and Testing Trump Mobile: A Detailed 5-Day Odyssey
0:00 Initial Inquiry & Plan Details: The video begins with the user's questions about Trump mobile's features, network, and data cap behavior, noting the advertised "unlimited data with the first 20 GB at high speed" without clarity on post-cap service.
0:46 Signup Hurdles: The signup process reveals an email verification that can initially be bypassed, and an IMEI checker that only works for iPhones, requiring an iPhone for sign-up at this time.
1:30 Exorbitant Taxes & Fees: The service charges surprisingly high telecom taxes, adding $14.52 (over 30% of the plan cost) in Colorado, making the $47 advertised plan actually $61.97 per month. Autopay is also enabled by default.
2:49 Confusing Post-Purchase Flow: After payment, the website provides unclear instructions for logging in or continuing activation, often requiring users to infer steps or wait for separate emails.
3:39 Activation Gridlock & Unhelpful Support (Calls 1 & 2): The dashboard initially shows "coming soon" for all activation options. Multiple calls to customer support yield vague answers about the "Trump network" (denying an underlying carrier like T-Mobile/AT&T/Verizon), and agents are unfamiliar with technical terms like RCS. Support suggests waiting hours or a day due to an unselected "instant activation" option.
7:06 Disconnects and Contradictory Information: The first support call abruptly ends. A second call provides conflicting operating hours compared to the website and customer service agents are unable to provide clear answers regarding activation or underlying network details.
12:55 Number Porting Glitch: The user's original phone number is unexpectedly ported out (making the old SIM "SOS only") before the Trump mobile service can be activated, leaving the user without service for days.
14:31 Website in Flux: The Trump mobile website is shown to be constantly updating and changing daily, with inconsistent button placements and information, though this indicates active development.
16:40 Email Support Directive (Call 3): After repeated failed activation attempts via eSIM, a third call to support results in the agent advising the user to email customer care.
18:55 Liberty Mobile Connection: On day five, email support is confirmed to be handled by "Liberty Mobile," indicating a close operational tie-in between the two services. The website also updates with new, albeit still somewhat confusing, port-in instructions recommending a "personal transfer call" with a specialist.
21:16 Service Activation (Finally!): After 5 days, the eSIM successfully activates, displaying "Trump" in the status bar (e.g., "Trump 5G").
21:47 Unexpected New Number: Crucially, the user's original number that was ported out is not transferred to the active Trump mobile line; instead, a completely new, random number is assigned.
22:24 T-Mobile Network Confirmed: The underlying network is confirmed to be T-Mobile, offering excellent 5G speeds (over 800 Mbps down, 45 Mbps up) initially.
RCS Messaging: Works after activation (with read receipts).
Visual Voicemail: Works and transcribes.
Wi-Fi Calling: Works.
Personal Hotspot: Works.
Group & Picture Messaging: Work initially.
26:21 Data Cap Fallout: Complete Shutdown: The most significant finding: once the 20GB high-speed data cap is exceeded (tested at 32.8 GB), internet access is completely shut off (not just slowed down).
28:28 Dependent Features Fail: This complete data cutoff causes features reliant on cellular data (e.g., picture messaging, group messaging, visual voicemail, and potentially RCS) to stop working entirely, making the service largely unusable for common smartphone functions after the cap is hit.