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Just weeks after unveiling their new T1 mobile phone with patriotic flair and the bold claim it was “Made in the USA,” the Trump family has quietly changed its tune — scrubbing the phrase from their promotional materials and replacing it with softer language such as “Proudly American” and “American-Proud Design.”
The marketing shift, first reported by The Verge, comes amid growing scrutiny over the Trump family’s claims of domestic manufacturing, particularly in light of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rules that bar the use of “Made in USA” labels unless products are “all or virtually all” made in the United States.
Patriotic Pitch Gets Walked Back
The T1 phone — a gold-toned $499 device etched with an American flag and sold via the Trump Mobile website — was initially touted with all-American pride. But the phrase “Made in the USA” has now disappeared from the site entirely. In its place are less specific slogans, including:
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“Proudly American”
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“American-Proud Design”
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“Brought to life right here in the U.S.A.”
Neither the Trump Organization nor its outside public relations firm have responded to requests for comment. A statement attributed to Trump Mobile spokesperson Chris Walker claimed, “T1 phones are proudly being made in America,” calling contrary speculation “inaccurate.” But no further details have been offered.
Reality Check: Building Phones in the U.S. Is Rare
Industry experts say it’s highly unlikely that the Trump family is manufacturing a fully U.S.-made phone.
“It’s nearly impossible to build a smartphone in the U.S.,” said Francisco Jeronimo, a mobile tech analyst at IDC. “The infrastructure just doesn’t exist at scale, and the costs would be massive.”
Jeronimo said it’s possible the phones are assembled in the U.S. using parts sourced from abroad, particularly from China, where most global smartphones are manufactured.
“If it’s a question of assembling components and targeting small volumes, I suppose it’s somehow possible,” he said. “But even that’s a stretch.”
Trump’s Sons Push MAGA Messaging
Eric and Donald Trump Jr., who are overseeing the Trump Mobile venture, have framed the phone and accompanying mobile service plans as a pro-America, anti-woke alternative to major telecom companies.
“You’re going to have phones that are made right here in the United States of America,” Eric Trump told Fox News. “It’s about time we bring products back to our great country.”
Plans start at $47.45/month — a reference to Donald Trump’s status as the 45th and 47th president — and are bundled with promises like U.S.-based customer service centers, including one in St. Louis, Missouri.
“You’re not calling up call centers in Bangladesh,” Eric Trump quipped.
History of Controversial Trump Product Origins
This isn’t the first time Trump-branded products have raised eyebrows over their origins. In 2023, an Associated Press investigation found that the “God Bless the USA” Bible, sold by Trump’s campaign operation, was printed in China — despite its patriotic branding and appeals to American manufacturing.
The T1 phone appears to be part of a broader push by the Trump family to tap into MAGA-aligned consumer markets — while also potentially leveraging Donald Trump’s political platform.
Conflict of Interest Concerns Loom
Ethics experts have raised red flags over the Trump family launching a telecommunications business while Donald Trump is campaigning and would, if reelected, oversee the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) — the agency responsible for regulating the mobile industry.
Additionally, Trump has threatened tech giants like Apple, now a direct competitor to Trump Mobile, warning of 25% tariffs on iPhones due to Apple’s shift in manufacturing to India.
“This is a direct conflict of interest,” said a government ethics lawyer. “You now have a presidential candidate whose family is running a business subject to oversight by his future administration.”
Conclusion
The Trump family’s T1 phone rollout blends political branding with commercial enterprise — and now, a dose of regulatory reality. As scrutiny over its production intensifies, the switch from “Made in USA” to “Proudly American” may be less about patriotism than avoiding federal enforcement. But in MAGA circles, the messaging may be enoughto fuel sales, regardless of where the phone actually comes from.
