A Trump X Page is seen displayed on a smartphone with a Trump Phone logo in the background. (Photo: CFP)
Trump Mobile, the wireless service launched by the Trump Organization, appears to be retreating from earlier claims that its new smartphone is made in the United States.
The company updated its website around June 22, removing the "Made in USA" label that was previously displayed in its promotional materials. As of June 25, the T1 8002 phone is instead described as "designed with American values in mind."
The change follows mounting scrutiny from industry analysts, who noted that the T1 phone closely resembles an existing model produced by a Chinese manufacturer.
Meanwhile, a press release from the Trump Organization issued days earlier still states that the $499 gold-colored smartphone will be "proudly designed and built in the United States."
An imported product wrapped in domestic branding
While billed as a revival of American manufacturing, the T1 phone shares key features with T-Mobile's Revvl 7 Pro—produced by Wingtech, a Chinese original equipment manufacturer (OEM).
Analysts say the phone's core components, including the system-on-chip, screen, battery, and camera modules, are almost certainly sourced from East Asia.
There is little to indicate the presence of any proprietary Trump technology or a U.S.-based production chain. Unlike companies such as Apple, which maintain design ownership and centralized intellectual property while outsourcing assembly, Trump Mobile has provided no documentation or verifiable details regarding its supply partners, factory locations, or compliance certifications.
Even if some final assembly occurs on U.S. soil, the vast majority of the phone's value originates abroad. The situation reflects a broader challenge facing the United States: after decades of offshoring, the country lacks the industrial infrastructure and skilled labor required to produce high-tech electronics at scale.
The T1 phone may be packaged in gold, but its core reflects the same global dependencies that Trump has long campaigned against.
For critics, the phone serves more as a political emblem than an industrial breakthrough. Its American branding aligns with Donald Trump's broader nationalist messaging, but lacks the institutional backing—such as sustained investment in R&D, manufacturing capabilities, or workforce training—required for genuine reindustrialization.
Observers warn that in the absence of a serious industrial strategy, such gestures risk misleading the public, especially during an election season, while doing little to resolve the structural vulnerabilities within the U.S. economy.
Beyond the phone: A parallel Trump universe
The T1 phone launch is the latest move in Donald Trump's efforts to build a self-contained economic and media ecosystem around his political brand.
From the Truth Social platform and NFT collectibles to signature gold sneakers, Trump has sought to bypass traditional institutions in favor of direct engagement with his base.
Trump Mobile adds a telecommunications dimension to that strategy, creating an enclosed environment where users consume Trump-branded content, communicate via Trump-affiliated networks, and now use devices carrying his name.
Critics argue that such consolidation risks further blurring the boundaries between commerce, politics, and media. While it deepens loyalty among supporters, it also raises concerns about transparency, regulatory oversight, and the spread of misinformation.
In effect, Trump is not merely selling a product; he is offering a worldview, packaged in plastic and gold.
Co-presented by South and the School of Journalism and Communication, Jinan University
Reporter | Liu Xiaodi, Gu Jiahui (intern)
Editor | Yuan Zixiang, James, Shen He
