When the Trump family unveiled a new phone before a giant American flag at its headquarters earlier this month, the pitch was simple and succinct, packed with pure patriotism: “Made in the USA.”
The Trumps are apparently having second thoughts.
How about “proudly American”?
Those are the two words that have replaced the “Made in the USA” pitch that just a few days ago appeared on the website where customers can pre-order the so-called T-1 gold-toned phones with an American flag etched on the back. Elsewhere on the site, other vague terms are now being used, describing the $499 phone as boasting an “American-Proud Design” and “brought to life right here in the USA.”
The Federal Trade Commission requires that items labeled “Made in USA” be “all or virtually all” produced in the U.S. and several firms have been sued over misusing the term.
The Trump Organization has not explained the change and has not responded to a request for comment. Neither did an outside public relations firm handling the Trumps' mobile phone business, including a request to confirm a statement made to another media outlet.
“T1 phones are proudly being made in America,” said Trump Mobile spokesman Chris Walker, according to USA Today. “Speculation to the contrary is simply inaccurate.”
The language change on the website was first reported by the news site The Verge.
An expert on cell phone technology, IDC analyst Francisco Jeronimo, said he’s not surprised the Trump family has dropped the “Made in the USA” label because it’s nearly impossible to build one here given the higher cost and lack of infrastructure to do so.
But, of course, you can claim to do it.
“Whether it is possible or not to build this phone in the US depends on what you consider ‘build,’" Jeronimo said. “If it’s a question of assembling components and targeting small volumes, I suppose it’s somehow possible. You can always get the components from China and assemble them by hand somewhere.”
“You’re going to have phones that are made right here in the United States of America,” said Trump's son Eric to Fox News recently, adding, “It’s about time we bring products back to our great country.”
The Trump family has flown the American flag before with Trump-branded products of suspicious origin, including its “God Bless the USA” Bibles, which an Associated Press investigation last year showed were printed in China.
The Trump phone is part of a bigger family mobile business plan designed to tap into MAGA enthusiasm for the president. The two sons running the business, Eric and Don Jr., announced earlier this month that they would offer mobile phone plans for $47.45 a month, a reference to their father's status as the 45th and 47th president. The call center, they said, will be in the U.S., too.
“You’re not calling up call centers in Bangladesh,” Eric Trump said on Fox News. “We’re doing it out of St. Louis, Missouri.”
The new service has been blasted by government ethics experts for a conflict of interest, given that President Donald Trump oversees the Federal Communications Commission that regulates the business and is investigating phone service companies that are now Trump Mobile rivals.
Trump has also threatened to punish cell phone maker Apple, now a direct competitor, threatening to slap 25% tariffs on devices because of its plans to make most of its U.S. iPhones in India.
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27 Comments
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divinda
Inside each phone there is probably a covertly placed explosive device, Israeli style, that can be made to go the moment you disagree with Trump.
NCIS Reruns
Trump has already gone far beyond shameless self-commercialization and entered a completely new dimension. It's truly the Twilight Zone of lowbrow, crass greed,
Politik Kills
Americans are constantly trying to move the goalposts.
“It depends on what you mean by ‘no’”
their attempts to subvert words boils my p!55
lincolnman
Just like half the stuff sold at the Trumpstore.com, it's made in Chinese sweatshop factories; just like his $399 high top sneakers and his $59.99 Bibles...
Trump sure knows how to play his supporters for suckers...
theFu
When we fix the US Constitution, we need to take steps to prevent a high office holder from having any outside financial concerns under his/her control.
These devices are almost certainly made from Chinese components and nearly fully assembled outside the USA, perhaps with India (didn't Trump just get India to agree to a deal?). Knowing Trump as we all do, I bet stuff with his Brand was exempt in all these tariff deals. That's what a con-artist does.
Perhaps just the battery is added to the final device in the US to meet the "bring to life in the USA" statement.
Since Trump has a cell phone now, he cannot be allowed to make any changes that impact his competition - telcos or devices. It is called "conflict of interest" and the FTC needs to slap him hard, with the courts helping out not that he's doing it.
The Trump phone probably has malware pre-installed, just like the cheap Chinese phones and other cheap Android devices often do. https://newrepublic.com/post/197295/donald-trump-mobile-smartphone-major-snags
Did anyone buy Trump sneakers? Or a Trump Bible? Seems the reason to buy Trump-Coin is to get 1-on-1 access to President Trump, since the coin isn't useful for any other reason. Just another method to buy access to a US President that is hard to track by the canceled govt oversight departments.
nishikat
Hey Trump people! Gonna buy one? Better than iPhone 16? Remember that Trump people believe in Trump.
grund
Grifters.
browny1
The Scams just get more and more ludicrous by the day.
And the gullible take the bait and hook and line and sinker.
Made in the USA -
Morphs suddenly into -
Brought to life - what like Frankenstein!!!
Funnier & Funnier.
Nifty
Personally I think people worry about how to define 'bogus' or 'fake' or 'crooked.'
TokyoLiving
What a pathetic farce, and the Trump circus knows it well and takes advantage of the blind fanaticism of its horde of blind and naive fanatics to deceive them and like good MAGA sensationalist sheep, they buy all the paraphernalia that they put the name "Trump" on..
Once again, for the umpteenth time, it is proven that the US without China is nothing.. LOL
Nibek32
Even the infamous maga hat is made in China. Hilarious.
wallace
Trump's new Chinese-made phone. During his presidency, his family increased their wealth by $2.9 billion. He made claims about Hunter Biden making money with his presidential dad.
Trump won't be singing his song "Born in the USA".
Will it also be subject to Trump's Chinese tariffs?
Yarnaby
It looks beautiful and was doubtless forged atop Mount Rushmore on a magic anvil by a shirtless Donald Trump himself.
https://www.techeblog.com/trump-mobile-t1-smartphone-specs-price-release-date/
I do actually like the colour and the wood grain look of the casing though.
Chico3
Well, this is just great (sarcasm). A convicted felon hawking phones. Will anyone buy these phones? It is really rich (no pun intended) that RFK Jr. said that anyone can afford these phone. He is definitely living somewhere else. But really, you might reckon that these phones might have some spy chips that his Administration can check how and where people are using these phones.
Oldboy
Snake oil salesmen were a mainstay in the golden era of the Wild West.
Azzprin
An expert on cell phone technology, IDC analyst Francisco Jeronimo, said he’s not surprised the Trump family has dropped the “Made in the USA” label because it’s nearly impossible to build one here given the higher cost and lack of infrastructure to do so.
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Considering iphone and other phone makers mainly make their phones outside the USA, there would be a lack of infrastructure in the USA
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Most likely it costs $4.99 and trump up the price to $499.00
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BB
Gilded trash. He knows his core market.
Peter Neil
It’s a reskinned version of RVVL 7 phone made by a Chinese company Wingtech. It’s sold by T-Mobile for half the price of the Trump-flavored one.
It’s a license of Trump’s name only and uses a small Florida company that’s a virtual network operator.
The Trump Mobile website says its "products and services are not designed, developed, manufactured, distributed or sold by The Trump Organization."
A cheap product at double the price.
1glenn
Caught in another lie? I am shocked!
ClippetyClop
Haha! MAGA getting happily mugged again. A 100% Trump tax on a mediocre Chinese phone, plus all the bloatware that will be syphoning money from their account every month. Plus the China tariffs.
Just buy a Revvl 7 and a $10 MAGA case (also made in China).
Peter Neil
There’s a reason everyone in the photo is laughing. They’re laughing at the rubes that’ll buy it. Trump airlines, Trump University, Trump Casino, Trump steaks, Trump Vodka, Trump ties, Trump guitar, Trump watch, Trump meme coin, Trump phone…
What’s next, Trump Fried Chicken?
Tokyo Guy
Who cares where it's made? If you buy one, you're an idiot and a sheep, period.
Jim
It’s just unbelievable how the convicted felon who was voted as the president by imbecile Americans is able to con more and more Americans on a daily basis!
BertieWooster
Mobile phones and other electronic equipment are being made in China, Malaysia and India because production costs are lower there. But what's going to happen as the standard of living in those countries rises and the U.S.A. sinks lower into debt that it cannot repay and becomes poor? The situation is going to reverse?
Perhaps that's part of Trump's plan.
HopeSpringsEternal
For people familiar with how Trump does business, he primarily licensing his name/brand, so he'll not own any assets or operations related to production of phones
It's the same for his sizable real estate business, largely mgmt. fees and Crypto Empire, more licensing/brand.
Trump's positive cash flow from his brand/license business empire is b/w $3 and $4 million per day,
Partners Trump works with regarding phones, will make all business operational decisions as to where, how, who and what is used to make such phones etc.
HopeSpringsEternal
Naturally, Trump's family has 'veto' over certain business decisions, as Pres. Trump a bit busy at the moment keeping the world safe, growing US economy etc.
Suspect they'll be Starlink relationship with Trump's phone, as global access key these days, plus security
wallace
Another fraud, just like his university.