Trump family to launch mobile phone company

The Trump family said it will launch a mobile phone company, the latest in a string of ventures that have been announced while Donald Trump is in the White House despite ethical concerns that the US president could mould public policy for personal gain.

Donald Trump’s son Eric Trump, who will run the business, said that the new company would build its own phones in the US, and maintain a call centre in the country as well.

The announcement of the new mobile phone company and service follows several real estate deals for towers and resorts in the Middle East, including a golf development in Qatar announced in April. A $1.5 billion partnership to build golf courses, hotels and real estate projects in Vietnam was approved last month, but the deal was in the works before Trump was elected.

Trump criticised Apple last month because it planned to make most of its US iPhones in India, and threatened to slap a 25 per cent tariff on the devices unless the tech giant starts building the product in its home country.