The Trump Mobile T1 phone, first marketed as “Made in the USA,” is nearly identical to the two-year-old HTC U24 Pro, a phone from Taiwan’s HTC built with Chinese parts. That is the finding of a technical analysis repair company iFixit did with NBC News, published June 11, 2026.
What the analysis and earlier reporting found
- iFixit opened the T1 in San Luis Obispo, Calif., and compared it with the HTC U24 Pro, NBC News reported.
- A week earlier, The Verge reported that Trump Mobile says the phone gets “final assembly” in Miami, arriving in about “10 parts.” CEO Pat O’Brien has described the T1 only as “proudly assembled in the US.”
- Trump Mobile executives told The Verge the parts come from “favored” or “friendly” nations and would not say where the $499 phone is made.
Why it matters for Made in USA
Under FTC rules, an unqualified Made in USA claim requires that “all or virtually all” of a product be made in the USA. An “Assembled in USA” claim needs substantial final assembly here. A phone that matches an imported model with Chinese parts does not meet the first standard, and it raises questions about the second. Earlier coverage: the T1 ships without its Made in USA claim.
FAQ
Who did the teardown?
Repair-guide company iFixit, working with NBC News.
What phone does the T1 resemble?
The 2024 HTC U24 Pro, made by Taiwan’s HTC using Chinese parts.
Where does Trump Mobile say the phone is assembled?
The company told The Verge the phone goes through final assembly in Miami.
Source & credit
Originally reported by NBC News (Brian Cheung, Maya Huter), June 11, 2026: “We tore open the Trump phone: it was nearly the same as a Taiwanese device with Chinese parts”. Additional reporting: The Verge, June 5, 2026.