The mobile phone service and Trump-branded smartphone, overseen by President Donald Trump’s adult sons, has sparked ethical issues because of Trump’s direct impact on telecommunications regulations.
Trump’s $499 smartphone is expected to be manufactured in China.
The recently unveiled smartphone by the Trump Organization is expected to be manufactured in China, according to experts, despite assertions that it will be produced in the United States.
On Monday, the company owned by U.S. President Donald Trump introduced the T1, a gold-colored smartphone priced at $499. This device will operate on Google’s Android platform.
While the Trump Organization claims the phone will be “built in the United States,” analysts highlight that it was probably designed and will be produced by a Chinese company.
“There’s no way this phone was created from the ground up or that it will be fully assembled in the U.S.,” stated Francisco Jeronimo, vice president at International Data Corporation, in a Tuesday interview with CNBC. “That scenario is completely unfeasible.”
Jeronimo indicated that a Chinese original device manufacturer (ODM), a company that designs and produces products for other brands, is likely responsible for the phone’s production.
“Though it’s marketed as an American-made device, it’s probable that this smartphone will be initially manufactured by a Chinese ODM,” added Blake Przesmicki, an analyst at Counterpoint Research, in a note on Monday.
Research director Jeff Fieldhack from Counterpoint Research remarked that “the U.S. lacks the local manufacturing capabilities to support this.”
The topic of smartphone manufacturing gained attention after Trump mentioned potential tariffs on imported devices. While these tariffs have not yet been implemented, the president has scrutinized Apple’s supply chain, urging the company to produce its flagship iPhone in the U.S. This is part of Trump’s broader initiative to increase domestic electronics manufacturing.
Experts have pointed out that producing iPhones in the U.S. would be nearly unfeasible and would significantly increase product costs. Moreover, establishing large-scale manufacturing operations in the U.S. would require several years.
Device will require international parts
Even if some assembly were to occur in the U.S., smartphone supply chains are inherently global, sourcing components from multiple countries.
The T1 from the Trump Organization is no exception. Although specific component details have not been disclosed, the specifications may provide some insight.
The smartphone will feature a 6.8-inch AMOLED display, a type of screen largely produced by South Korean company Samsung. LG, another South Korean manufacturer, along with Chinese firm BOE, also contributes to the display production.
For comparison, Apple’s premium iPhone 16 Pro Max has a 6.9-inch display and starts at $1,199.
At a price of $499, the T1 will likely be equipped with a processor from Taiwanese company MediaTek, which will be produced in Taiwan. Alternatively, if it were to use a Qualcomm chip, that too would likely be manufactured in Taiwan.
The phone’s advertised 50-megapixel camera will need image sensing chips, a market primarily dominated by Japanese company Sony for smartphones, with smaller competitors in China and other regions.
The memory of the device could potentially utilize American technology from Micron, which manufactures components domestically. However, other suppliers, such as South Korea’s Samsung, could also be involved.
“Even with local manufacturing options available, the company will still rely on components imported from outside the U.S.,” noted Fieldhack from Counterpoint Research.
