President Donald Trump displayed a new gold-colored desk phone in the Oval Office, attracting attention not only to the handset but also to a red button on the Resolute Desk nearby. The customized phone became noticeable in photographs taken at the White House. Trump confirmed the phone’s novelty during an Oval Office event, expressing that a ‘phone company’ had provided it to him.

The handset boasts gold trim and significant presidential branding, displaying the presidential seal, an image of the White House, Trump’s name, and numbers ’45’ and ’47’ denoting his two nonconsecutive terms. This phone matches Trump’s broader overhaul of the Oval Office, which includes several gold accents and decorations since his return.

While the White House has not publicly specified the phone’s model, it resembles Cisco’s 8851 series business phones, previously linked to Trump’s communications setup. Historical images from 2017 showed similar Cisco phones on Trump’s desk. Reuters’ David Shepardson highlighted that Cisco manufactured the handset after contacting major U.S. phone companies, refuting Trump’s statement about a ‘phone company’ gifting him the device.

Newsweek reached out to Cisco for a comment.

Trump’s Twin Telephones

The photograph showed two desk phones near the Resolute Desk, a setup not new for Trump. During his initial term, Trump’s Oval Office often featured multiple desk phones. Although the White House has not clarified each phone’s function, presidents typically have access to multiple communication devices for various networks and operational needs.

The dual-phone arrangement aligns with earlier images from Trump’s first administration and other White House setups. The image also renewed interest in a small wooden box with a red button, made famous during Trump’s first term for summoning a White House valet with a Diet Coke. This feature gained attention after a 2017 interview with the Financial Times and remained part of the narrative around Trump’s work habits.

The button was removed during President Joe Biden’s term but returned following Trump’s inauguration.

Understanding the Cisco IP Phone 8851

Online technology buffs quickly identified the handset as resembling a Cisco IP Phone 8851, commonly used in business and government settings. The model itself is typical, but its customization, including gold-colored trim and personal branding, captured attention.

While the White House has not verified the model, it looks like Cisco devices seen in Trump’s Oval Office during his initial term. The phone aligns with Trump’s penchant for gold-themed branding. Earlier this year, Trump’s wireless venture, Trump Mobile, introduced a gold-colored smartphone, the T1 Phone. Trump often integrates gold finishes into properties, products, and office décor associated with his brand.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Rebecca Flood and Emma Lee-Sang.