Unless the Trump family secretly built a U.S. factory, industry experts say the $500 made-in-America smartphone is a fantasy

Donald Trump’s family business, the Trump Organization, is putting his name on a new smartphone and phone service. They’re calling the phone the “T1” and say it’s designed and made in the U.S. It’s expected to be released in August for \$499 and comes in gold. The company also announced a new wireless service called “Trump Mobile,” which will cost \$47.45 per month for up to 20GB of data—a number that nods to Trump’s time as president.

The idea of making a smartphone in America is attracting a lot of doubt. Most smartphones are made overseas because it’s cheaper and easier to find the right factories, parts, and skilled workers. Producing electronics in the U.S. takes a lot of time, money, and planning—something that tech experts say can’t be rushed.

One expert, Todd Weaver, runs a company called Purism, which actually does build a phone in the U.S. He said making a truly American-made phone takes years and costs a lot more. For example, his company’s Liberty Phone costs \$650 just to make and sells for around \$2,000. So, he’s very skeptical that the Trump phone could really be made in the U.S. and still be sold for only \$499.

Weaver even called the Trump phone “vaporware”—a word for tech products that are announced but may never actually become real or work as promised.

There are also issues with the phone’s description online. The website had several errors, like calling a battery a “camera” and using the wrong terms for memory. It didn’t even say what kind of chip the phone will use, which is a big deal when choosing a smartphone.

Tech experts have also said the T1’s features seem pretty average compared to popular phones like the iPhone. Without more details, they’re not convinced this phone will stand out.

On top of that, the Trump Organization didn’t say who is making the phone or where it’s being built. That adds to the confusion, especially since building a phone factory in the U.S. is a huge job that could take years.

Eric Trump, one of the president’s sons, gave a clue that the phones may actually be made outside the U.S. for now. He said that the goal is for them to be made in America eventually, but that might not happen right away.

President Trump has talked a lot about bringing manufacturing back to the U.S., and earlier this year, he pushed tariffs to encourage American-made goods. If the phone or its parts are made overseas, they could be hit with those tariffs—ironically, set by Trump himself.

The wireless service, Trump Mobile, isn’t a brand-new network. It’s a “virtual” carrier, meaning it uses the existing networks of big companies like Verizon, AT\&T, or T-Mobile. So, while it has Trump’s name on it, it’s relying on other companies to provide the actual service.

Critics have pointed out that Trump Mobile is more expensive than similar plans from other providers like Metro by T-Mobile or Boost Mobile. Some of these other services even give away free phones when you sign up, which Trump Mobile doesn’t seem to offer.

There’s also a legal issue. The government has strict rules about when a company can say something is “Made in the USA.” One expert said unless the Trump team secretly built a full phone-making operation in the U.S.—which seems highly unlikely—they may not legally be allowed to make that claim.

In short, Trump is trying to attach his brand to a new phone and phone service, but many experts doubt whether the product is truly made in America or even competitive in today’s tech market.