Trump’s Love Affair With the Landline As Photo Reveals Gold Phone
Newsweek · C · trust 54/100
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. President Donald Trump showed off a new gold-colored desk phone in the Oval Office this week, drawing fresh attention not only to the handset itself but also to a familiar red button sitting nearby on the Resolute Desk.
The customized phone appeared in photographs taken at the White House on Wednesday. Trump later confirmed the device was new after being asked about it during an Oval Office event.
"Yeah! You know who gave this to me? A phone company," Trump said while proudly displaying the phone.
The handset features gold trim and extensive presidential branding, including the presidential seal, an image of the White House, Trump's name, and the numbers "45" and "47" representing his two nonconsecutive terms in office.
The phone also appears to fit into Trump's broader redesign of the Oval Office, which has featured an increasing number of gold accents and decorative items since his return to the White House.
Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for comment.
While the White House has not publicly identified the model, it bears similarities to Cisco's 8851 series business phones, a model that has previously been associated with Trump's Oval Office communications setup during his first administration. Historical photographs from 2017 of White House office technology also showed Cisco desk phones on Trump's desk.
Reuters correspondent David Shepardson reported that the handset was manufactured by Cisco after contacting major U.S. phone companies about Trump's remark that a "phone company" had given him the device. "The phone companies don't make handsets—this is from Cisco," Shepardson wrote on social media.
Newsweek reached out to Cisco via email for comment.
The photograph appeared to show two desk phones on or near the Resolute Desk, a setup that is not entirely new for Trump.
During his first term, Trump's Oval Office often contained multiple desk telephones. While the White House has not explained the purpose of each phone currently visible in the Oval Office, presidents routinely have access to multiple communications devices that connect to different networks or serve different operational needs.
The two-phone setup therefore appears consistent with previous photographs from both Trump's first administration and other White House communications arrangements.
The image also revived discussion of another item sitting nearby: a small wooden box with a red button.
The button became famous after Trump revealed during his first term that pressing it would summon a White House valet with a Diet Coke .
The feature gained widespread attention after a 2017 interview with the Financial Times and has remained part of the mythology surrounding Trump's working habits ever since. The button was removed during President Joe Biden's administration before returning following Trump's inauguration.
Online technology enthusiasts quickly identified the handset as appearing similar to a Cisco IP Phone 8851, a desk phone commonly used in businesses and government offices.
The model itself is not particularly unusual, but what drew attention was the extensive customization, including gold-colored trim, the presidential seal, Trump's name and references to his two presidencies.
While the White House has not confirmed the exact model, the phone appears similar to Cisco devices that were visible in photographs of Trump's Oval Office during his first administration.
The phone also fits into a broader pattern of gold-themed Trump branding. Earlier this year, Trump-backed wireless venture Trump Mobile unveiled a gold-colored smartphone known as the T1 Phone , while Trump has long incorporated gold finishes into properties, products and office décor associated with his personal brand.
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