"The 'Trump Phone' Reservation Fee of 6 Billion Yen?" The Truth Behind the Spread of "600,000 Units" Was Just a Single Post

1. "600,000 Reservations and $60 Million"—The Impact of Numbers Took the Lead

"Trump Mobile's 'Trump Phone' has reportedly received about 600,000 reservations, amassing $60 million just from the $100 deposit per unit." Such stories often dominate timelines with the "strength of numbers" rather than their veracity. The figure of 600,000 is convenient for both frenzy and controversy. For supporters, it serves as proof of popularity, while for critics, it becomes fuel for ridicule, questioning who would fall for such a story.

However, this time, the numbers proliferated without clear confirmation of "who, where, and how" they were verified. In essence, the numbers took on a life of their own.

2. The Reason "Lack of Evidence" Became News

The crux of this commotion isn't just whether the 600,000 figure is true or false. More importantly, it's about how numbers with weak foundations were treated as "established facts" through seemingly plausible channels.

The initial suspicion arose when major media outlets cited as sources (e.g., NPR, Fortune, The Guardian) could not verify the numbers. Nevertheless, on social media, a sloppy syllogism of "someone reported it," "AI summarized it," and "therefore it's true" took hold. Here, "who said it" was less important than the atmosphere of "AI said it," which replaced the need for fact-checking.

3. The Possibility That It All Started with a "Provocative Sentence"

The starting point of the spread was a post by an anonymous meme account on X (formerly Twitter). The content, laced with strong derogatory language, claimed that "about 590,000 people bought it, yet no one received it." Such posts are easily spread, regardless of support or opposition, as both "anger" and "ridicule" motivate reposting.

The tricky part is that in the ensuing game of telephone, the numbers were rounded from "590,000" to "about 600,000," and whether it was "bought" or "reserved" became ambiguous, with the "deposit of $60 million" as a "convenient byproduct" added. The calculation is simple: $100 per unit × 600,000 units. The ease of mental math creates a sense of "plausibility," reducing the perceived need for verification.

4. AI Summaries Add "Seemingly Credible Sources"

A symbolic moment in this case was when AI chatbots/AI summaries discussed the numbers as if based on multiple reports, leading to a chain of human posts.

AI sometimes lists "media names that seem to be sources," cloaking claims in an aura of authority. However, the numbers may not actually appear in those media articles. What occurs here is not "fact-checking" but the "generation of plausibility."
Furthermore, humans often mistake AI-generated text for "confirmation" rather than "citation," feeling reassured by "AI said so" instead of checking primary sources themselves.

5. "Reported by AP" Is Incorrect—Misquotations Cross Borders

Another factor that accelerated the spread was "misattributed authority." Specifically, some media introduced the numbers as "reported by AP," but AP reportedly indicated that such numbers were not included in their articles.

This resulted in a typical chain of misquotations. One outlet referenced another, which in turn referenced another, leading to the assumption that "there must be a source somewhere." Consequently, the strong brand name "AP" functioned as a "warranty" for numbers with weak foundations.

6. Impact on Government-Related Posts—"Seemingly Credible Images" Convey Trust

Surprisingly, government-related information dissemination accounts reportedly shared posts (or screenshots of AI summaries) indicating those numbers.

This isn't a simple story of "public institutions spreading misinformation." The format of "screenshots" on social media creates a fact of "seen" or "shown," establishing a shortcut to trust, separate from the content's truthfulness.

Posting a screen capture of an AI summary is more "evidence-like" than writing "apparently 600,000 units." This "evidence-like" quality lowers the skepticism of those who should be questioning it.

7. Polarized Reactions on Social Media—"Laughter" and "Caution" Spread Simultaneously

The social media reactions this time can be broadly categorized as follows:

• Ridicule and Memeification:
  Responses like "Another 'believer business'" and "The numbers must be inflated." The strong language of the initial post contributed to its consumption as a joke.

• Defense and Counterattack:
  Responses interpreting it as political conflict rather than focusing on the numbers' truth, such as "Anti-Trump spin" and "They just want to say it's not selling."

• Tech/Media Verification Group:
  Movements demanding links or text presentation, asking "What is the primary source?" and "Which AP article?" Here, the "location of the basis" becomes the point of contention rather than the "size of the numbers."

• Merging of AI Distrust and Media Distrust:
  Concerns about the blurred boundary between AI and reporting, such as "It's scary how AI confidently asserts" and "News sites amplify misinformation through AI summaries."

• Consumer Protection and Regulation Discussion:
  Debates on "What are the authorities doing?" and "Should investigate" concerning deposits, advertising expressions, and delivery delays.

The important thing is that these occurred simultaneously. Misinformation doesn't necessarily stop when denied. The denial itself can become "fuel for the topic," potentially expanding recognition.

8. "No One Knows the Actual Number of Reservations"—The Void Invites Speculation

So, what is the actual number of reservations? In conclusion, there are few means for outsiders to verify it. If the company doesn't officially release numbers, there's no third-party audit, and shipment records are invisible, the numbers circulating on social media are likely to be "speculation" or "fabrication."

The more information is absent, the more flamboyant numbers prevail. This is the "cost of silence." If a company remains silent, others begin to write convenient narratives.

9. Another Context: Investigation Requests, Delivery Delays, Advertising Expressions

The "600,000 units" commotion intertwined not only as a standalone misinformation but also with other news contexts surrounding Trump Mobile. For instance, reports of lawmakers requesting investigations from authorities for consumer protection, expressions suggesting "Made in America" being revised or removed, and delays in device shipments.

The existence of such "flammable groundwork" cannot be denied as a factor making the weakly-founded numbers seem "plausible."

10. Conclusion: The "New Misinformation Etiquette" Highlighted by This Commotion

This incident doesn't end with the classic story of "misinformation starting from an anonymous account."

• Meme posts became the "starting point,"

• AI summaries provided "authority,"

• Misquotations by some media acted as a "warranty,"

• Screenshots provided "evidence-like" quality,

• Even denial articles became "amplification devices."

This flow is not an issue exclusive to specific factions or services. Everyone sees "plausible" information, makes quick judgments, and shares it. In this speed, fact-checking is postponed, and "everyone is saying it" becomes a substitute for truth.

Therefore, what's necessary is to pause when encountering flashy numbers.
"Who verified that number, and how?"
Unless we reclaim this question, the next "600,000" will appear again on a different theme.

Reference URLs

• https://www.theverge.com/news/862821/democrats-elizabeth-warren-aoc-ftc-trump-mobile-investigation-letter
  └ Regarding lawmakers' requests for investigation to authorities (FTC), background on advertising expressions ("Made in America" labeling, etc.), deposits, and promotional image issues.

• https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-mobile-delays-mobile-phone-donald-trump/
  └ Information on device shipment delays (timing, explanations), service fees, and plan details, as well as the difficulty in obtaining comments from the company.

• https://www.phonearena.com/news/ftc-asked-to-investigate-delayed-trump-t1-phone_id177380
  └ Example of secondary information on investigation request reports and the situation where "estimated reservation numbers" are discussed, which easily ties to social media/other reports (note that the numbers themselves are difficult to verify).

• https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/01/democrats-ask-trumps-ftc-to-investigate-trump-mobiles-broken-promises/
  └ Additional reporting examples on consumer protection and regulation context (investigation requests, site labeling, etc.).