Trump's All-American Smartphone Website No Longer Guarantees 'USA Manufacturing'
In a surprise move, the Trump Organization, under the new brand T1 Mobile, has quietly rescinded its initial claim that the Trump phone, also known as the T1, would be "built in the USA." The shift in language on the T1 Mobile website, from a clear "made in the USA" claim to more ambiguous statements about design and production, has raised questions about the company's commitment to domestic manufacturing.
Initially, the T1 was touted as a product that aligned with Trump administration policies emphasizing U.S. manufacturing. However, within ten days of the announcement in early June 2025, the specific "made in the U.S." claim was removed from marketing materials. The website now states: "Premium Performance. Proudly American." but does not explicitly state that the phone is manufactured domestically.
Industry experts have expressed skepticism about how a $499 phone could be fully manufactured in the U.S., given the high costs and complexity involved in domestic smartphone production. Todd Weaver, founder of Purism, a U.S.-based phone manufacturer, stated that it would take many years to fully source the components of a phone from the U.S. and that it is not practical.
Eric Trump hinted that the T1 phones might not be manufactured domestically initially, stating that they would be built in the U.S. "eventually." This suggests that the T1 phones may be manufactured in a location with lower labor costs, such as Asia.
The T1, which resembles a golden iPhone knockoff, offers unlimited talk, text, and data. Despite the shift in the manufacturing claim, the company continues to emphasise its "America First" approach, promising that the devices will be manufactured domestically at some point. However, the exact location of the manufacturing process remains unclear.
Gizmodo reached out to Trump Mobile for more information about the manufacturing location of the T1 phones, but the company has yet to respond. The Verge has reported that the language on the Trump Mobile website indicating the phone is made in the U.S. has been removed. The Wayback Machine shows the site's original language, which stated that the phones were "brought to life right here in the USA" and that "American hands" are "behind every device," suggesting assembly, not manufacturing, in the U.S.
Manufacturing a functioning modern smartphone in the U.S. is prohibitively expensive, while it is much more cost-efficient to manufacture goods in Asia, where there are limited labor laws and people work in poor conditions due to lack of choice. This raises concerns about the working conditions in the location where the T1 phones may be manufactured.
The Trump Organization's change in language about the T1's manufacturing process adds to the ongoing debate about the company's commitment to U.S. manufacturing and its impact on American workers.
- Despite initial claims, the T1 Mobile website now only vaguely suggests that the Trump phone, or T1, could be made in the USA, raising questions about its commitment to domestic manufacturing.
- Industry experts remain skeptical about the feasibility of a $499 phone being fully manufactured in the USA due to the high costs and complexity involved.
- The T1, resembling an expensive golden iPhone knockoff, offers unlimited talk, text, and data, but the exact location of its manufacturing process remains unclear.
- Eric Trump, a member of the Trump Organization, hinted that the T1 phones may not be initially manufactured domestically, suggesting they might be made in Asia where labor costs are lower.
- As the Trump Organization continues to promote its "America First" approach, it still insists that the T1 devices will eventually be manufactured domestically. However, this promise raises concerns about the working conditions in the potential manufacturing location.
- Gizmodo and The Verge have reported on the ongoing debate over the Trump Organization's commitment to U.S. manufacturing, with the latter indicating that the language on the T1 Mobile website once explicitly stated the phones were made in the USA. Now, the company has yet to provide a clear response regarding the manufacturing location of the T1 phones.
