Can Trump’s $500 American-made phone really happen?

The Trump Organization, run by the president’s sons, recently announced a new phone called the T1, priced at $499 and set to launch in August. They claim it’s “designed and built in the USA,” but experts are doubtful. Making a smartphone in America is tough due to high costs, a lack of skilled workers, and limited local suppliers. Most phones, like iPhones, are made in Asia for these reasons.

Todd Weaver, CEO of Purism, the only company making U.S.-built phones, says creating a fully American phone takes years, not months. Purism’s Liberty Phone costs $650 to make and sells for $2,000 to cover extra costs and profits. The T1’s low price raises questions about how it could be profitable if truly made in the USA. The Trump Organization hasn’t shared who’s making the phone or where.

They mentioned it runs on Android, has a 6.8-inch screen, and includes features like a fingerprint sensor. But the product page had mistakes, like calling the battery a “camera” and confusing RAM with storage. Analysts like Wayne Lam from TechInsights say the T1’s specs seem weak compared to top phones like the iPhone. Setting up U.S. manufacturing would take years to arrange suppliers and workers. Eric Trump hinted on a podcast that early T1 phones might be made overseas, with U.S. production later. This makes experts skeptical about the “Made in America” claim for now.