Trump Organization Unveils $499 T1 Smartphone Amid Skepticism

The Trump Organization, led by the president’s eldest sons, has announced a new wireless service and a gold-colored smartphone called the T1. The device is set to be available in August for $499 and is claimed to be "proudly designed and built in the United States." However, industry experts have expressed skepticism about the feasibility of producing a made-in-America smartphone within such a short timeframe, given the high costs of domestic labor, a shortage of skilled workers, and a lack of suppliers.

Todd Weaver, CEO of Purism, the only company currently producing a U.S.-made smartphone, stated that manufacturing a fully U.S.-made phone is not something that can be accomplished overnight. He also noted that Purism’s U.S.-made phone, the Liberty Phone, costs $650 to produce and retails for $2,000, raising questions about how the T1 could be profitable at a much lower price point.

The Trump Organization has not disclosed which company will manufacture the T1 or where it will be produced. The product page for the phone contains several errors and omissions, including incorrect specifications and a lack of information about the chips that will be used in the device. Wayne Lam, an analyst, described the specs for the T1 as "underwhelming" compared to higher-end devices like Apple’s iPhone.

Manufacturing phones in the U.S. is widely considered to be a lost cause, with devices and components almost entirely produced in Asia. Executives say U.S. manufacturing is too expensive in comparison, and that there aren’t enough suppliers and skilled workers to get the job done. Setting up manufacturing of a U.S.-made phone could take years, not just a few months.

Eric Trump, the president’s son, hinted that the T1 may initially be made overseas, with the goal of eventually bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. This raises questions about how the device will comply with President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs and attacks on companies that manufacture their products in Asia.

In addition to the phone, the Trump Organization will also give its name to a wireless service called Trump Mobile, which will cost $47.45 monthly and come with up to 20 GB of data. The price is a reference to President Trump’s two terms as president. The wireless service is more expensive than comparable carrier plans and does not offer a free phone to new customers.

The Trump Organization has not disclosed who it is partnering with on the wireless service or device. However, the website’s terms of use reference the service being powered by Liberty Mobile Wireless, a “virtual” carrier that uses other companies’ networks. Wireless coverage will come from the nation’s three biggest wireless providers.

Weaver of Purism also brought up the Federal Trade Commission’s strict rules that spell out when companies can and can’t market a product as being homegrown. He stated that unless the Trump family has secretly built a secure, onshore or nearshore fab operation over years of work without anyone noticing, it’s simply not possible to deliver what they’re promising.