Days after announcing plans for a purportedly US-made smartphone, the Trump Organization has quietly removed explicit references to its American production from the device’s official website. The move comes shortly after the Trump T1 phone was unveiled.
When promotional material for the Trump T1 phone debuted on June 16th, it prominently featured a “Made in the USA” tagline and a website banner encouraging pre-orders for “our MADE IN THE USA T1 Phone.” However, by Wednesday, reporters observed these specific declarations were no longer displayed on the site.
What Changed on the Website?
Instead of the direct “Made in the USA” claim, the website now describes the Trump T1 phone with phrases like:
An “American-Proud Design.”
“Brought to life right here in the USA.”
- Emphasizing “American hands behind every device.”
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The banner previously promoting the “MADE IN THE USA T1 Phone” pre-order now simply refers to “the new T1 phone.”
These changes were first highlighted by tech news publisher, The Verge.
Company Insists Phone Will Still Be US-Made
Despite the altered wording on the site, the Trump Mobile organization maintains the phone will still be manufactured in America. A spokesperson told the BBC, “Speculation to the contrary is simply inaccurate.”
They added, “We’re excited to launch the phones later this year,” and noted that customers can currently switch to Trump Mobile service using their existing phones.
Experts Cast Doubt on US Production Feasibility
The idea of building a smartphone entirely from scratch in the United States, particularly within the projected timeline for the Trump T1’s expected September release, has faced skepticism from technology and business experts.
“They don’t even have a working prototype. It’s extremely unlikely,” commented Professor Tinglong Dai of Johns Hopkins’ Carey Business School. He suggested it would require nothing short of “a miracle.”
Leo Gebbie, an analyst at CCS Insight, echoed this sentiment, stating that the US “simply does not have the high-tech supply chain” necessary for comprehensive smartphone assembly on the required scale, especially not by the planned launch date. Gebbie believes the most probable path for the company to claim the phone’s American origins would be assembling it in the US using components imported from other countries.
Historical Context: Apple and US Manufacturing
This isn’t the first time discussions around US-based electronics manufacturing have involved Donald Trump. As president, he repeatedly urged tech giant Apple to move its iPhone production to the United States, even threatening tariffs of 25% on the company if they did not comply.
Former President Trump stated on his platform Truth Social in May, “I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone’s that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else.”
However, tech analyst Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities dismissed the notion of Apple manufacturing iPhones in the US as a “fairy tale that is not feasible.”
Meanwhile, Eric Trump, involved in launching the Trump Mobile phone plan, expressed a longer-term view in a recent podcast, suggesting that “eventually, all the phones can be built in the United States of America.”
The shift in online messaging for the Trump T1 phone raises questions about the scope and definition of its “Made in the USA” claim as its anticipated launch approaches.
