Last week, the Trump Organization unveiled the Trump Mobile wireless service along with the T1, a gold-plated smartphone branded with Trump’s name, which was asserted to be manufactured in America. However, skepticism arose regarding this assertion due to the country’s inadequate infrastructure for essential smartphone parts.
Trump Mobile now seems to be revising its narrative concerning the T1’s production location. As reported by The Verge, the Trump Mobile website has discreetly eliminated mentions of the T1 being manufactured in America. Once characterized as “proudly made in America,” the webpage now refers to the phone having an “American-proud design.”
The earlier assertion that the T1 is “proudly made right here in the USA” has been altered to “it’s brought to life right here in the USA,” implying “American hands behind every device.”
These modifications are also evident on the Trump Mobile homepage, which had promoted pre-orders for the “MADE IN THE USA” T1 phone, set to be available from September. While the homepage continues to advertise the T1, it no longer asserts U.S. manufacturing, and the expected delivery date has been omitted.
The specifications of the T1 have been modified as well, with its 6.8-inch AMOLED display decreased to 6.25 inches, and the previously stated 12GB of RAM removed without substitution.
The term “American-proud design” remains ambiguous, but it appears that the T1 may not actually be made in America. The expression “American hands behind every device” could merely suggest some level of handling in the U.S. prior to customer delivery.
Nonetheless, Trump Mobile maintains that the T1 will be manufactured in the U.S., without commenting on the adjustment in the website’s wording. “The T1 phones are proudly being made in America,” a Trump Mobile representative informed Ars Technica. “Speculation to the contrary is simply inaccurate. We’re thrilled to launch the phones later this year.”
Mashable has reached out to Trump Mobile for further comment.
It would not be surprising if Trump Mobile were to retract its promise of a U.S.-made smartphone. Analysts project that a smartphone manufactured in the U.S. could retail for as much as $3,000, six times the T1’s price of $499.