President Trump Unveils New Gold-Trimmed Desk Phone in Oval Office

President Donald Trump introduced a striking new gold-colored desk phone in the Oval Office, capturing attention with its distinctive design and a well-known red button on the Resolute Desk nearby. Photos from the White House revealed the customized phone, which Trump confirmed was a new addition when asked about it during an event in the Oval Office.

Yeah! You know who gave this to me? A phone company, Trump proudly stated while displaying the phone. The handset is outfitted with gold trim and bears 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.

The ornamental phone aligns with Trump’s broader aesthetic redesign of the Oval Office, incorporating more gold accents and decorative items since his return to the presidency.

The model of the phone, while not publicly identified by the White House, resembles Cisco’s 8851 series business phones. This model was previously part of Trump’s Oval Office setup during his first term, as seen in historical photographs from 2017 featuring Cisco desk phones on his desk.

Reuters correspondent David Shepardson confirmed the handset’s manufacture by Cisco after contacting major U.S. phone companies to verify Trump’s remark that a phone company had provided the device. Shepardson stated: The phone companies don’t make handsets—this is from Cisco, on social media.

Further scrutiny of images revealed two desk phones on or near the Resolute Desk, a configuration familiar to Trump’s previous setups. During his initial term, Trump’s office often featured multiple desk telephones. While the White House has not clarified the specific purpose of each phone, presidents typically have access to multiple devices for various communication needs.

Discussion of another item reemerged: a small wooden box with a red button. This gained notoriety after Trump revealed that pressing it summoned a valet with a Diet Coke, a feature from his first term that drew attention following a 2017 Financial Times interview. The button was removed during President Biden’s administration and reinstated with Trump’s return.

Details on the Cisco IP Phone 8851

Technology enthusiasts identified the handset’s resemblance to a Cisco IP Phone 8851, commonly used in business and government offices. The model itself isn’t exceptional, but the extensive customization drew focus, including gold trim and symbols of Trump’s presidency. Though the White House hasn’t confirmed the exact model, its appearance is consistent with Cisco devices previously seen in Trump’s office.

This latest phone addition is consistent with Trump-branding trends. Earlier, Trump-backed wireless venture Trump Mobile launched the T1 Phone, a gold-colored smartphone, and Trump’s properties and offices have frequently featured gold accents.

For further remarks, Newsweek editors Rebecca Flood and Emma Lee-Sang were involved in this story.