Trump Mobile T1 not made in US; only ‘limited’ final assembly to happen domestically, says report
The Trump Mobile T1 smartphone, earlier marketed around a “Made in the United States” pitch, will instead be produced largely overseas, with only limited final assembly expected to take place in the US, according to a report by The Verge citing company executives.Trump Mobile executives Don Hendrickson and Eric Thomas told The Verge that the device has undergone a redesign with upgraded specifications and is now expected to ship possibly by late March 2026, after missing earlier launch timelines linked to its initial June 2025 announcement.According to the report, the company has stepped back from earlier American manufacturing claims, with executives confirming the phone is not American-made. The Federal Trade Commission requires products labelled as American-made to contain no foreign content, a standard that is difficult to meet given the globalised supply chain of smartphone components.Instead, production is being handled by what executives described as a “favored nation”, while a limited “final assembly” stage is expected to take place in Miami. The Verge reported this final assembly may involve putting together roughly the last set of components before shipment.The device is currently undergoing carrier certification with T-Mobile, which is expected to be completed around mid-March, after which sales could begin. Trump Mobile is also preparing to relaunch its website with updated product images and full specifications.The redesigned T1 will feature a larger display, now closer to 6.8 inches compared with the earlier 6.25-inch version. The report said the device will use a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7-series chipset, paired with 512GB internal storage expandable up to 1TB via microSD.Camera specifications are also being upgraded, with both the front camera and main rear sensor expected to be 50MP. The device is expected to include a 5,000mAh battery and support multiple connectivity standards, with FCC certification already cleared.In terms of pricing, customers who placed an earlier $100 deposit are expected to receive the device at the originally indicated $499 introductory price. For new buyers, the final retail price is yet to be announced but is expected to be higher than $499 and below $1,000, according to the report.The Verge also reported design changes including removal of the earlier “T1” rear logo, while retaining the signature gold finish and revised branding elements. The rear camera layout has been redesigned from an earlier square module to a vertical oval housing with triple lenses.
