The Trump Organization's new $499 flagship smartphone, branded as an American-made alternative to Apple's iPhone, is likely manufactured in China despite marketing claims that it is "designed and built in the United States," according to industry analysts and product teardowns.
Unveiled Monday, the gold-plated "T1" handset is positioned by the Trump Organization as a patriotic alternative to mainstream devices, leveraging former President Donald Trump's branding alongside a mobile network called Trump Mobile. The Android-powered phone is expected to ship in August and is priced significantly higher than comparable devices with similar specifications.
Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization, said during a launch event, "You're gonna have phones that are made right here in the United States of America." He added on Fox Business: "Making phones in America, it's about time we bring products back to our great country."
But mobile analysts and social media users quickly cast doubt on those claims. Max Weinbach, a known tech analyst on X, noted that the T1 closely resembles the T-Mobile REVVL 7 Pro 5G, a handset manufactured by Wingtech-a Chinese company owned by Luxshare. Apple Insider reported the REVVL 7 is assembled in China at factories in Jiaxing, Wuxi, or Kunming.
Francisco Jeronimo, vice president at International Data Corporation, said Tuesday, "There is no way the phone was designed from scratch and there is no way it is going to be assembled in the U.S. or completely manufactured in the U.S. That is completely impossible."
Counterpoint Research analyst Blake Przesmicki wrote Monday, "Despite being advertised as an American-made phone, it is likely that this device will be initially produced by a Chinese ODM." Jeff Fieldhack, research director at the firm, added, "The U.S. does not have local manufacturing capabilities readily available."
The Trump Organization has not disclosed its supply chain details, but analysts say the T1 will inevitably include foreign components. The 6.8-inch AMOLED display is most likely sourced from Samsung or BOE in Asia. The chipset is expected to be from Taiwanese firm MediaTek, and image sensors are typically made by Japan's Sony.
"Even when there is local manufacturing available, the company will have to rely on components that are being imported from outside the US," Fieldhack noted.
The T1's $499 price tag is also under scrutiny. The T-Mobile REVVL 7 retails for around $250 and has been available on sale for as low as $169. While the Trump-branded device features minor cosmetic changes such as a relocated camera module and gold housing, analysts say these differences do not justify the price markup.
Trump Mobile, the wireless carrier associated with the device, has been described as an "All-American" network but is not a standalone mobile network operator. Instead, it is expected to run on existing U.S. infrastructure from T-Mobile, AT&T, or Verizon. Its $47.45 monthly plan offers 20 GB of high-speed data, unlimited calls and texts, and international calling to over 100 countries.
The service promises "Device Protection," though its website provides little detail on what that entails or on potential hidden fees.
