Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/Bloomberg
Topics: News, US News, Phones, Donald Trump
The UNILAD Team
Topics: News, US News, Phones, Donald Trump
Donald Trump's latest mobile business move has left supporters and critics alike confused.
After racking up millions in real estate before entering politics, the President decided to launch a smartphone and mobile service.
The gold-colored T1 device is set to retail for $499, and when it was announced by the Trump Organization earlier this month, it was claimed that the smartphone would be 'made in the USA'.
In fact, the company's website clearly states: "Our MADE IN THE USA' T1 Phone' is available for pre-order now."
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Trump has hailed the importance of reviving manufacturing jobs in America, or in other words, he wants to make America make things again.
This was a key reason for his reciprocal tariffs on so-called' Liberation Day', with Trump saying at the time that the tariffs would encourage US consumers to buy more goods that were made in America.
However, the reference on the website, which stated where the phone would be produced, has been removed completely, a change which was first noted by The Verge.
The new tagline for the device is ‘Premium Performance. Proudly American’ and the website says the device is ‘designed with American values in mind’ and there are ‘American hands behind every device’. An ‘American-Proud Design’ is also listed as a key feature.
It is unclear if the phone will actually be manufactured in America, which does not come as a surprise to industry experts.
When the gadget was announced this month, experts told CNBC that they believed it would likely be made in China by a local third-party company. This is because America lacks an advanced supply chain for building smartphones, and components would still need to be shipped from overseas, even if they did.
However, Trump Mobile Spokesperson Chris Walker did tell the publication: “T1 phones are proudly being made in America. Speculation to the contrary is simply inaccurate.”
People on Reddit had a few things to say about the apparent change.
One person wrote: "That's honestly funnier because lots of things say "designed in America" but this doesn't even go that far."
Another said it was 'so crazy', while someone else commented: "How is this even a thing, it's so stupid."
The T1 phone will be available in August, and a phone plan for $47.45 a month will also be offered.
"Trump Mobile is going to change the game, we're building on the movement to put America first, and we will deliver the highest levels of quality and service," Donald Trump Jr. said.
"Our company is based right here in the United States because we know it's what our customers want and deserve."
UNILAD has contacted the Trump Organization for comment.