Does the Trump-branded phone involve fraud as “Made in the USA” turns into “Pride of the USA”?

Recently, the T1 phone launched by Trump Mobile, a virtual carrier under Trump, is experiencing an epic embarrassment.

Within just two weeks, this highly anticipated "patriotic phone" not only deleted all the "Made in the USA" commitments from its official website but was also exposed as a suspected relabeled Chinese phone with doubled prices, and even its specifications started to shrink secretly. This business farce led by the Trump family is evolving into a major fiasco.

The Disappearing "Made in the USA"

At the beginning of this month, the Trump Organization high - profilely established the virtual carrier Trump Mobile and simultaneously released the flagship phone T1.

In the overwhelming publicity, the most prominent selling point was the eye - catching banner on the homepage: "T1 is Made in the USA" (MADE IN THE USA). At the press conference, the Trump family vowed that this phone was specially designed for patriots.

However, the slap in the face came quickly. In less than two weeks, all the "Made in the USA" words on the official website were reported to have suddenly disappeared collectively. Now, there are only some vague new slogans left on the official website: "Exceptional performance, American pride", "Designed based on American values", "There is American involvement behind every device".

Some reports pointed out that these empty slogans neither dare to promise that the phone is made in the United States nor even claim that it is designed in the United States. The so - called "American involvement" might just be sticking a label on the packaging box?

It's worth mentioning that not only did the slogans change, but even more outrageously, the phone's specifications also shrank secretly.

Initially, the official website stated that the T1 was equipped with a 6.78 - inch AMOLED large screen, but now it has quietly shrunk to 6.25 inches. The previously claimed 12GB memory specification has completely disappeared, as if it had never existed.

The only thing that hasn't changed is the rough PS render, with the golden body emitting a plastic - like sheen.

And yet, the price of this mysterious phone is extremely high. The unlocked phone is priced at $500.

After the slogans were changed, some media quickly discovered that the T1 is most likely a rebadged version of the Chinese - made REVVL 7 Pro 5G (which is priced at only $169), and this phone itself is also a customized phone of T - MOBILE.

Currently, this phone is being recalled due to quality issues, but the T1 phone only has a layer of gold paint on it, and its price has tripled. Moreover, the package fees are even more exaggerated. The monthly price of $47.45 is almost twice that of similar virtual carriers.

A Family Business

In the face of external doubts, the Trump Organization has remained silent.

But sharp - eyed media noticed a small disclaimer on the official website: The T1 phone and Trump Mobile are just paid licensing projects, and the actual operation has nothing to do with the Trump Organization. This move is a textbook - level way of shifting the blame - making money using Trump's name, gold - themed aesthetics, and patriotic slogans, and cutting ties with the family business when something goes wrong.

Although Trump himself has not publicly commented on this phone, his business empire can still profit from the licensing fees.

What's even more delicate is that although Trump no longer directly manages the company, he still holds the ultimate decision - making power through a trust. The interest chain behind this absurd phone is obviously more thought - provoking than its specifications.

The most ironic thing is that the Trump family once boasted that the T1 phone would go head - to - head with the Apple iPhone 17 in September.

Now, the shipping date on the official website has become vague as "later this year", while the release date of the iPhone 17 is just around the corner. This business battle that touted itself as the "preferred choice for patriots" has lost to itself before it even started.

This article is from the WeChat official account "Meku Network". Author: jh. Republished by 36Kr with permission.