US3 min(s) read
us news2 min(s) read
Published 12:52 18 Jun 2025 GMT
us3 min(s) read
us5 min(s) read
us4 min(s) read
us6 min(s) read
Published 14:04 12 Jun 2026 GMT
An investigation by NBC News has raised serious questions about Trump Mobile’s bold claim that its smartphone was “made entirely right here in the U.S.” after reporter Brian Cheung took the device apart to see what was really inside.
The phone, marketed as the T1, was introduced with an “ambitious promise”, with the company stating: “We’re going to be manufacturing the phones” and promoting it as “a phone at $499 made entirely right here in the U.S.”
When Cheung ordered the device to verify those claims, the process was far from straightforward.
After waiting months with no delivery, Cheung eventually received a unit in May 2026 that had been sent out to select media outlets. On first inspection, the device featured a gold-toned back and came with Truth Social pre-installed. However, its design immediately raised suspicions.
“It looks very similar. It has a very distinct shape,” one expert noted, comparing it to the HTC U24 Pro, an Android phone made by Taiwanese manufacturer HTC.
To investigate further, Cheung took the phone to iFixit’s lab in California, where engineers carried out detailed scans and a full teardown. Using imaging technology, they found that the internal layout was nearly identical to the HTC model. “Wow, they look so similar,” one reaction noted when comparing the scans side by side, with components like “the battery, cameras, boards mostly in the exact same place.”
Closer inspection of the display revealed more clues. Examining the screen under a microscope, engineers identified a specific pixel structure: “This is a pentile layout, and it’s in Samsung’s patented diamond layouts in particular,” adding that it was “definitely not made in the United States as far as I know.”
The most revealing moment came when Cheung physically opened the device. “I literally see the word ‘the Philippines,’” he said while dismantling it, before confirming that the internal components closely matched those of the HTC U24 Pro. Experts also agreed: “They’re in the exact same spot” and “boards are going to be exactly the same.”
When asked directly whether the phone appeared to be American-made, the response was tellingly succinct: “It’s unlikely… this is a Chinese phone.” Investigators concluded that “everything we’ve seen suggests that the T1 was manufactured in the same factory.”
In a striking final test, components from an HTC phone were inserted into the T1 to see if they would function interchangeably. The result was conclusive. “That’s right. It tells you that these boards are exactly the same… which means they came out of the same factory by the same designer.” Another expert summed it up simply: “No difference.”
Following these findings, the phone’s marketing appears to have shifted. It is now described as “assembled in the USA,” rather than fully manufactured there.
Neither HTC nor Trump Mobile responded to requests for comment about the similarities or the extent of US-based production.
Cheung also noted that NBC’s original order for the phone still has not been fulfilled, suggesting that regular customers may still be waiting for their devices.
Meanwhile, additional concerns have emerged, including reports of a website security flaw that may have exposed “tens of thousands of account numbers,” though reports say the issue has since been fixed.
Ultimately, what began as a promise of a fully American-made smartphone has turned into a much more complicated, and awkward, reality.
Published 11:46 20 May 2026 GMT
Donald Trump's $499 gold-plated T1 phone has finally started shipping, but buyers are already complaining about one major problem.
The smartphone was launched under a Trump Organisation brand licensing agreement and operated by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr.
The device already faced backlash over repeated delays and questions about where it was actually made, and now, new criticism has emerged after customers and reviewers noticed something odd about the phone’s American flag design.
The flag printed on the back of the handset appears to feature just 11 stripes instead of the traditional 13, representing the original American colonies.
"The 13 stripes represent the 13 colonies that broke away from British rule to fight for independence, so you probably shouldn’t just lop two of them off," The Verge’s Dominic Preston, who has been tracking the release of the T1 phone, wrote.
The mistake quickly drew attention on social media as photos of the device began circulating following the first deliveries.
“[A]ctually kind of hilarious (& sad!) that the Trump phone has 11 stripes on it (actual flag has 13),” fintech entrepreneur Sheel Mohnot posted on X.
Others used the controversy to slam the project itself. "An overpriced, outdated phone, preloaded with propaganda that is no longer 'made in the USA,' is the perfect metaphor for Trump's Republican Party," Melanie D’Arrigo, executive director of a New York health advocacy group, said.
T1 was first announced to mark the tenth anniversary of Trump's 2016 campaign launch and was originally expected to ship in August 2025.
But the launch was repeatedly delayed over the following nine months, with critics increasingly questioning whether the phone would ever actually arrive.
At one stage, Trump Mobile quietly removed any mention of a release date from its website altogether.
Shortly before shipments finally began, the company updated its terms of use to clarify that the $100 deposit paid by customers did not "guarantee" the device would ever be manufactured or delivered.
Instead, the company described the purchase as a "conditional opportunity" to buy the phone if and when Trump Mobile decided to release it.
Despite the backlash, Trump Mobile CEO Pat O'Brien defended the lengthy delays, saying they were caused by extensive quality-control testing and the problems involved in launching an entirely new smartphone.
"The delays were worth it in our minds as we are delivering an amazing product," O’Brien said, per USA Today.
The company says remaining pre-orders are expected to be fulfilled in the coming weeks.
The $499 phone was heavily promoted as "Made in the USA" in June 2025.
That branding has since quietly changed as Trump Mobile’s website now describes the device as "designed with American values in mind" rather than claiming it is manufactured domestically.
O’Brien has also come out and said the phones were "assembled" in the US and that the devices use components "primarily manufactured in America".
However, analysts and reviewers have disputed those claims. Hardware experts previously noted the T1’s specifications appeared almost identical to the REVVL 7 Pro 5G, a T-Mobile Android phone manufactured in China.
In addition to this, a few tech experts told NBC News the handset strongly resembles the HTC U24 Pro, which is made in Taiwan.
"It looks physically very similar, and that matches with what we've been told so far,"Shahram Mokhtari, an engineer at tech repair company iFixit, told the outlet.
Published 13:35 13 May 2026 GMT
Buyers of the Trump mobile phone have been left in the dark, months after its purported release date.
It has been almost one year since Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump took to the Trump Tower to announce the launch of Trump Mobile, an "all-American" cell phone service, with a golden phone to follow.
Many US citizens were intrigued by the prospect, so much so that 600,000 people forked out $100 deposits for the advertised T1 Phone, according to Time.
It would be priced at $499, and last summer, they claimed that it would be launched in August 2025.
But in May 2026, buyers are still expecting a release date after being left in the dark about the device's development.
There is no release date listed on the Trump Mobile website, and despite their claims, the phone may not be made in the US after all.
Trump supporters have now pushed for answers on the situation, months after being told false promises.
Mere months after Trump began his second presidential term, his eldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, announced the launch of Trump Mobile.
They pushed the idea of a made-in-America gold mobile phone, in addition to a mobile service with SIM cards that were also manufactured in the US, while running on the networks of the nation's three primary wireless providers.
According to the website, customers could put a $100 deposit down against the full price of $499 for the T1 gold phone, but the release date was repeatedly pushed back.
It would first be pushed back to late 2025, then early 2026, only for a release date to be released from the website completely in April.
Instead, it offers site visitors the chance to "join the waitlist."
Customers can join the Trump Mobile network on their existing phones, or via the refurbished iPhones and Samsung devices on the Trump Mobile website, but MAGA supporters are sceptical over the release of the T1 phone.
A viral TikTok video posted in January, which has since been deleted, showed a Trump supporter voicing their frustrations at the situation.
They claimed: “Hey, Trump supporter here. This one goes out to Don Jr. and Eric,
“Where the f***’s my phone? I ordered three, no, four, gold Trump phones in the summer.”
Trump Mobile had updated its “Preorder Deposit Terms and Conditions” on April 6, 2026, making some wild claims about those who put down a deposit.
One section reads: "A preorder deposit provides only a conditional opportunity if Trump Mobile later elects, in its sole discretion, to offer the Device for sale."
The explanation goes on: "A deposit is not a purchase, does not constitute acceptance of an order, does not create a contract for sale, does not transfer ownership or title interest, does not allocate or reserve specific inventory, and does not guarantee that a Device will be produced or made available for purchase."
Prospective buyers quickly realised that the fine print may mean that their deposit may be gone for good, regardless of whether a phone was released.
The terms do detail that Trump Mobile will issue a refund of the deposit if it cancels a product, but it adds that they are not responsible for delays caused by “parts shortages or hold-ups with regulators.”
The website clarified: "A binding sales contract is formed only if all of the following occur: (1) Trump Mobile makes the Device available for sale; (2) you complete checkout; (3) you submit full payment; and (4) Trump Mobile accepts and successfully processes payment.
"Until those conditions are satisfied, no enforceable agreement for purchase exists."
The website still offers a "waitlist" and suggests that the T1 gold phone will be released, but pledges to "issue a full refund of the deposit amount paid" if the phone's production is canceled.
One of the main selling points of Trump mobile products were that they would be "all-American," being manufactured in the US.
Eric Trump told Fox Business in June: “We don’t want to do that overseas. We don’t want to do that in India.”
The company never explained where or how the phones would be manufactured, which left industry experts confused at the price point they mentioned.
This is due to the fact that the only American phone at the time, the Liberty Phone, cost an eye-watering $2,000.
Trump Mobile has since dropped the made in America claim, instead describing their products as being "designed with American values in mind," featuring an "American-proud design," as well as "shaped by American innovation."
Despite the new designs looking different to original suggestions, the website still directs customers to a waitlist to pay a deposit.
Back in January, lawmakers, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Adam Schiff, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, signed a letter addressed to the chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, asking for an investigation of Trump Mobile.
They claimed that they had used "bait-and-switch tactics" in relation to their made in America claims about the mystery product.
They claimed that "there are no signs that the phone has become a reality," adding: "While customers wait for the promised T1 phone, Trump Mobile has been selling refurbished iPhones, which are largely manufactured in China, and Samsung devices, which are manufactured by a Korean company, while claiming these products are 'brought to life right here in the USA."
Published 13:49 01 Jun 2026 GMT
A MAGA supporter from Rhode Island who spent more than $600 on a Trump-branded watch was left in tears when the product arrived with a glaring error.
Tim Petit purchased the luxury timepiece as a present for his wife, Melanie, after hearing a radio advertisement that appeared to feature President Donald Trump's voice promoting the collection.
"With the president’s voice… I was curious, so I went on the website," Petit explained.
The man browsed the online catalog and ended up selecting a silver-and-pink watch featuring the 79-year-old's signature and fireworks artwork and paid $640 for the gift.
But when the watch arrived, his wife Melanie immediately noticed something was wrong.
Instead of reading "Trump," the watch face appeared to be missing the first letter of the name, simply saying "Rump".
"I noticed it right away. How could they process this and go through something without checking their work?" Melanie said, per The Mirror.
The error left the couple disappointed, particularly because the watch had been bought as a special gift.
"I wanted to do a special thing for her. And we expected that it would have the integrity of the President of the United States and good follow-through," Tim said.
Melanie revealed that she was so upset by the mistake that she was left in tears.
Fortunately for the pair, the company has since stepped in to resolve the issue.
After being contacted by NBC10, the watchmaker apologized and said it would immediately replace the defective watch.
The company also provided the couple with an $800 coupon as a goodwill gesture.
Despite featuring Trump's image, signature, and voice in promotional material, the watches are not operated by the Trump administration.
The website, gettrumpwatches.com, states that the products are produced under a paid licensing agreement with CIC Digital LLC.
The disclaimer notes that the watches are "not designed, owned, managed, or controlled by Donald J Trump, The Trump Organization, CIC Digital LLC, or any of their respective principals or affiliates".
The company also maintains a strict sales policy, with its website stating that "all sales [are] final."
.jpg_70qiuU?tr=cr-0.0.1024.683,f-webp,q-70,w-1024)
The watch controversy comes as another Trump-branded product has recently found itself under fire.
Trump Mobile's $499 gold-plated T1 smartphone has only just begun shipping after months of delays, but buyers quickly spotted what critics claim is another major design mistake.
Photos of the device show an American flag printed on the back of the handset, appearing to feature only 11 stripes rather than the traditional 13 that represent the original colonies.
"The 13 stripes represent the 13 colonies that broke away from British rule to fight for independence, so you probably shouldn’t just lop two of them off," The Verge's Dominic Preston wrote.
The issue quickly gained traction online. "[A]ctually kind of hilarious (& sad!) that the Trump phone has 11 stripes on it (actual flag has 13)," fintech entrepreneur Sheel Mohnot posted on X.
"An overpriced, outdated phone, preloaded with propaganda that is no longer 'made in the USA,' is the perfect metaphor for Trump's Republican Party," Melanie D’Arrigo, executive director of a New York health advocacy group, said.
The T1 smartphone was first unveiled as part of the tenth anniversary celebrations of Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and was expected to launch in August 2025. However, repeated delays pushed back the rollout by several months.
At one point, Trump Mobile even removed release date information from its website entirely before later clarifying that customer deposits did not "guarantee" the device would ever be produced or delivered.
Trump Mobile CEO Pat O'Brien defended the delays. "The delays were worth it in our minds as we are delivering an amazing product," O’Brien said.
The company has also faced ongoing questions over where the phone is actually manufactured.
While promoted as "Made in the USA," Trump Mobile's website now describes the device as being "designed with American values in mind."
O’Brien has said the phones are "assembled" in the United States using components "primarily manufactured in America."
However, several analysts have disputed those claims, with some suggesting the device closely resembles existing smartphones manufactured overseas.
"It looks physically very similar, and that matches with what we've been told so far," Shahram Mokhtari, an engineer at tech repair company iFixit, told NBC News.
Published 14:50 12 Mar 2025 GMT
In what some are calling one of the most bizarre White House events in recent memory, President Donald Trump staged a public Tesla-buying event alongside billionaire Elon Musk.
Taking place on March 11, the 78-year-old president posed with various Tesla models on the South Lawn of the White House, praising the company’s quality and slamming Musk’s “unfair treatment” by critics.
The event saw Trump declaring his intention to buy a Tesla Model S for himself and a Cybertruck for his 17-year-old granddaughter, Kai Trump.
It came after Trump addressed the Tesla boycott in a Truth Social post, writing: "I’m going to buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American. Why should he be punished for putting his tremendous skills to work in order to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN???"
During the event, Trump - wearing his signature blue suit and red tie - was seen holding a note.
Captured by a photographer at the spectacle, a close-up reveals that the note detailed Tesla prices for various models and colors. The list read:
"Tesla Pricing:
Beneath the list, an additional note emphasized affordability: "Teslas can be purchased as low as $299/month or $35K. All cars have self-driving, just needs to be turned on (fee)."
The handwritten breakdown fueled speculation that the entire event was nothing more than a coordinated PR stunt aimed at boosting Tesla sales, which have declined sharply in recent months amid ongoing protests.
During the event, Trump also insisted to Musk: "I don't want a discount."
Trump’s sudden enthusiasm for Tesla comes as Elon Musk faces backlash from former Tesla customers over his increasingly public alignment with right-wing politics.
While Tesla was once a favorite among liberal and environmentally conscious buyers, Musk’s political stances — such as the "First Buddy" leading DOGE — have alienated many customers.
At the event, Trump defended Musk, saying: "Because, number one, it's a great product, as good as it gets, and number two," Trump said, pointing to Musk, "because this man has devoted his energy and his life to doing this, and I think he's been treated very unfairly by a very small group of people."
Despite his sudden support for electric vehicles, Trump has historically criticized EVs.
Just last summer, while speaking in Chicago at the National Association of Black Journalists, Trump stated: "I'm against everybody having an electric car" -- despite Musk’s endorsement of his presidency.
Tesla’s stock price has suffered amid falling sales and concerns that Musk is too distracted by his growing involvement in politics.
The company’s stock plunged 55% from record highs in December, and Tesla shares closed at $230.58 on Tuesday, per Insider.
Adding to Tesla’s troubles, protests have erupted in both the U.S. and Europe, with demonstrators criticizing Musk’s political influence and some even vandalizing Tesla showrooms.
During a press conference at the White House, President Trump issued a stern warning against acts of violence targeting Tesla and its properties, vowing swift action against those responsible.
When asked whether he would classify violent protesters as domestic terrorists, he responded decisively: "I will do that, I'll do it. I'm going to stop them."
He went on to emphasize the government's surveillance efforts, stating: "Those people are going to have a big problem when we catch them. We've got a lot of cameras up, we already know who some of them are. We're going to catch them. And they're bad guys."
While Trump eagerly offered to write a check for his Model S, he also admitted that he won’t actually be able to drive it due to security protocols.
"I'm gonna buy one, now here's the bad news. I'm not allowed to drive," President Trump said. "I haven't driven a car in a long time. And I love to drive cars. But I'm gonna have it at the White House and I'm gonna let my staff use it. I'm gonna let people at the place use it. They all are all excited about that."
"I'm not allowed to use it," he continued. "Can you believe it?"
His granddaughter Kai, however, is expected to get behind the wheel of the Cybertruck — assuming she actually wants the vehicle.
Predictably, the internet exploded with reactions to Trump's note - with many slamming the POTUS for endorsing Tesla on White House grounds to such an extent.
On Reddit, one user summed up the event by saying: "Jesus. This is one of those pictures you see in history books for all the wrong reasons."
"This is extraordinary. The President of the United States is a literal car salesman now," another added.
One Reddit user added: "Using official white house press events to do literal advertisements for his billionaire friends. He needs to be impeached immediately."
Another quipped: "This administration is so unserious. Not that I’m surprised, but every week they escalate to a new level."
"There used to be an Office Government Ethics. I think you can imagine how much their guidance is heeded now," wrote another.
Others couldn’t resist mocking the blatant sales pitch, with one user joking: "This guy should be a World Limbo Champion because there is no bar he can't go lower than."
.jpg_70qiuU?tr=cr-70.99.1001.623,f-webp,q-70,w-525,h-200)
5 min(s) read
4 min(s) read
.webp_ke6C2y?tr=cr-169.8.1505.1344,f-webp,q-70,w-1024)
.webp_ke6C2y?tr=cr-169.8.1505.1344,f-webp,q-70,w-100)
.webp_vBqgAR?tr=cr-242.0.1293.1051,f-webp,q-70,w-100)
.webp_vBqgAR?tr=cr-242.0.1293.1051,f-webp,q-70,w-1024)