The Trump Organization’s foray into the mobile phone market is being powered by a little-known carrier called Liberty Mobile, a company with roots in politically-themed branding and a complex corporate structure, according to interviews and company records.
Executives with both Trump Mobile and Liberty Mobile confirmed a deep connection between the two entities, with Liberty Mobile handling the technical, legal, and financial infrastructure for the new venture. Don Hendrickson, a Trump Mobile executive, described Liberty Mobile as the “backbone” of the operation, responsible for tasks ranging from state registrations and tax compliance to network optimization and customer service.
“Liberty Mobile is the company that is registered with all the states, that clears all the taxes, pays all of the different E911 fees, the universal service tax, the different things that each one of the states require,” Hendrickson said. Eric Thomas, another executive involved in both companies, called Liberty Mobile the “enabler” for the Trump network.
Trump Mobile, which aims to appeal to conservative consumers with a “patriotic” and “America-first” brand, is currently taking pre-orders for its $499 smartphone and a $47.45 monthly service plan. The launch has been delayed from an initial target of August, with a potential release now expected next month. The service will utilize the networks of AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, functioning as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO).
Liberty Mobile itself operates as an MVNO, leasing network capacity from larger carriers. Although Trump Mobile focuses on a politically charged brand, Liberty Mobile has previously experimented with other celebrity-branded ventures. Before Trump Mobile, the company ran Canelo Mobile, a carrier co-branded with Mexican boxing star Canelo Álvarez, targeting Mexican-American consumers. That venture appears to have faded in recent years, according to reports.
The relationship between the two companies is more than just a service agreement. Hendrickson, Thomas, and Pat O’Brien are executives at Trump Mobile and are also the owners of Liberty Mobile, according to Hendrickson. However, the ownership structure remains opaque. While O’Brien previously stated that his company, Ensurety Ventures, acquired Liberty Mobile in 2024, both Hendrickson and Thomas denied this claim, stating Ensurety is a “third party.”
Further complicating the picture, state business records list Matt Lopatin as the founder and CEO of Liberty Mobile, with no mention of Hendrickson, Thomas, or O’Brien. Attempts to reach Lopatin for comment have been unsuccessful. Records also indicate the company was first registered in 2018, contradicting Hendrickson’s claim that it has been in business since 2006.
Liberty Mobile’s online presence is minimal. Its website features an outdated copyright date of 2025, a blank “phones” page, a single blog post about a government assistance program, and a FAQ section filled with placeholder text. Despite this, Liberty Mobile’s plans are cheaper than Trump Mobile’s, ranging from $17 to $40 per month.
The registered address for Liberty Mobile is located at Trump Towers in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida. The Trump Organization has not responded to requests for clarification regarding the ownership structure and operational details of Liberty Mobile.
