US President Donald Trump’s family business announced and promised a Made in USA revolution, but the new Trump Mobile T1 has turned out to be a classic example of patriotic marketing taken to the extreme. Presented by the Trump family as a device designed and built in the United States, it is a Chinese model already on the market, re-proposed with a different body and a higher price. Already after the first enthusiastic declarations, the company had retracted the statements, speaking of a near future in which the smartphone would be made in the USA.
The operation, between golden branding and resounding promises, focuses entirely on the “national” identity of the product. But behind the label, there is a device that has nothing new. And not even American. And we had already expressed our doubts.
Trump Mobile: The “American” Smartphone Coming from China
The Trump T1 is priced at $499, with an initial deposit of $100, and is billed as a “patriotic” alternative to the iPhone. But it’s a variant of the REVVL 7 Pro 5G, a Chinese smartphone made by Wingtech for T-Mobile, which can be found online for less than $180.
The Key specifications are practically identical:
The difference? Just the aesthetics and a different amount of RAM. The T1 changes the cover, adds a gold finish, and a Trump logo. Otherwise, it’s the same device, but sold at three times the price. If this seems impossible to you, know that this is a standard procedure, that is, to go to the smartphone manufacturers and choose a “ready” package where you can customize some details.
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What is controversial is the narrative that accompanies the product: unlike Apple or Google, who do not build in the USA but do not hide it, Trump Mobile has suggested the idea of a non-existent American production. The result is a smartphone with a decent technical profile, but which does not introduce anything original, if not a communication strategy built around the family name.
Doesn’t it remind you of the story of Stonex One? A communication too light on the origin of the smartphone that then risks backfiring on the company itself.
What’s Really Behind Trump Mobile and The 47 Plan
The T1 is just the first step in the Trump Mobile project, a new virtual operator that relies on the T-Mobile network. The offer is limited to a single monthly plan, called The 47 Plan, costing $47.45 per month. A clear reference to Trump’s possible run for the White House as the 47th president of the United States.
But beyond the catchy name, the offer has nothing revolutionary. No exclusive service, no technical advantage. The entire initiative is supported by the weight of the Trump brand, as has already happened with the cryptocurrencies and NFT cards launched in recent months.
Trump Mobile has no infrastructure, develops no technology, and offers no real innovation. It is a commercial operation, built to exploit political identity and gather consensus (and funds) among the most loyal supporters.
Also, it is virtually impossible, especially in the short term, to start the production of electronic components directly on US soil. If Apple can’t do it, how can a newly born brand do it?
