President Donald Trump recently showcased a unique gold-colored desk phone during an Oval Office event. This new device, along with a familiar red button, caught the attention of many. The phone, seen on the Resolute Desk in White House photos, was confirmed by Trump to be a new addition. He mentioned that a phone company provided it.
The handset is richly adorned with gold trim and presidential symbols such as the seal, an image of the White House, Trump’s name, and the numbers “45” and “47.” These numbers signify his two nonconsecutive terms as President. This phone complements Trump’s recent Oval Office redesign, which prominently features gold accents and decorative pieces.
While the White House hasn’t disclosed the phone model, it closely resembles Cisco’s 8851 series business phones. These models were part of Trump’s first administration’s office setup. Historical images from 2017 also depict Cisco phones on his desk.
Reuters correspondent David Shepardson confirmed that the phone was manufactured by Cisco, clarifying confusion caused by Trump’s claim that a “phone company” gave it to him. Shepardson reached out to major phone companies and confirmed the detail via social media.
The presence of two desk phones in the Oval Office sparked curiosity. This setup is not entirely new for Trump. During his first term, he also had multiple phones. While the White House hasn’t explained each phone’s purpose, presidents typically require multiple phones for different networks or operations. This aligns with photos from past administrations.
A small wooden box with a red button near the phones also interested observers. Famously, pressing this button summoned a White House valet with a Diet Coke, a feature revealed by Trump in a 2017 interview. This reached mythic proportions in discussions of Trump’s habits. The button was removed during President Biden’s term and returned with Trump’s inauguration.
Tech enthusiasts identified the phone’s resemblance to the Cisco IP Phone 8851, a model common in business and governmental settings. What stood out is the gold trim and presidential branding. Although the exact model remains unconfirmed, it matches ones visible in Trump’s prior Oval Office images. This fits with Trump’s gold-themed branding seen in other ventures, including the Trump Mobile T1 Phone and various gold finishes in properties and products.
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