US President Donald Trump criticized AT&T on Monday after experiencing technical difficulties during a conference call with faith leaders. He attributed the issues to the wireless carrier’s inability to ensure proper functioning of its equipment and suggested that future calls may involve a different provider.
In a post on social media, Trump expressed his frustration, highlighting the significant number of participants involved in the call. While the president did not provide specific details regarding the glitch, AT&T later communicated with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, indicating that it had initiated a review of the situation.
By the end of the day, the company suggested that the problem originated from the conference call platform itself, rather than its network. In a statement, AT&T expressed regret for the disruption and committed to finding solutions to prevent similar issues in the future.
In a follow-up regarding the incident, Trump apologized to the call’s participants, describing the delay as a prolonged wait. Although AT&T’s stock price experienced a brief dip in response to Trump’s comments, it quickly rebounded, indicating that investors were not overly concerned about the occurrence.
This incident comes shortly after the Trump Organization announced plans for a new mobile service under the name ‘Trump Mobile,’ a venture linked to the president’s family business. Offering a smartphone and service package, the company claims it will operate on all major US carriers, though financial details remain undisclosed.
The call glitch also coincides with ongoing security concerns for AT&T, which has faced multiple data breaches affecting millions of customers. Recent class-action lawsuits have resulted from these incidents, leading to a preliminary settlement approval that allows affected individuals to seek compensation depending on their exposure to the breaches.