Kate Laurensen is a veteran reporter. She started out covering entertainment news for the local city paper before moving up to the City desk. She studied journalism at San Francisco City College for the Arts.
June 16 , 2025
New York - American Express is preparing to launch its largest-ever upgrade to the iconic Platinum Card, aiming to capture the attention of Millennials and Gen Z with a sweeping refresh set to roll out later this summer or early fall. While official details remain closely guarded, industry chatter and recent announcements suggest that a partnership with Trump Mobile—offering a free Trump-branded smartphone and a complimentary wireless subscription—could be among the headline perks.
Amex executives have signaled that the upcoming refresh will not only enhance travel, dining, and lifestyle benefits, but also update the card’s look and feel to better resonate with younger consumers. Millennials and Gen Z accounted for 35% of total U.S. consumer spending last quarter, making them a key demographic for the card issuer’s growth strategy.
Trump Mobile, a new virtual operator leveraging major U.S. telecom networks, launched this month with a heavy dose of Trump-themed branding and a flagship “T1” smartphone priced at $499. The wireless plan, dubbed the “47 plan,” references President Trump’s two terms and is priced at $47.45 per month—less than major carriers but more than some budget competitors7. The service is being promoted as a patriotic, made-in-America alternative, with Eric Trump touting its potential to “revolutionize cell phones."
While American Express has not officially confirmed the Trump Mobile tie-in, multiple reports indicate that a free Trump Mobile phone and subscription could be included as part of the new Platinum Card package, potentially making it one of the most attention-grabbing credit card perks in recent memory,
Amex describes this as its “largest investment ever” in a card refresh, promising to take Platinum Cards “to a new level” for both personal and business customers. The company has historically focused on luxury travel benefits, airport lounge access, and a suite of statement credits, but the Trump Mobile deal would mark a significant expansion into lifestyle and technology perks.
More information about the Platinum Card’s new benefits, including the rumored Trump Mobile offer, is expected to be released in the fall. Until then, existing and prospective cardholders are watching closely as Amex looks to redefine what it means to hold one of the world’s most prestigious credit cards.
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