CNN Report: Purism is the Only Known U.S. Phone Manufacturer

In a recent CNN report, skepticism surrounds the Trump Organization’s claim that its new “T1” smartphone is “Made in the USA.” Experts, including Todd Weaver, CEO of Purism, challenged the claim, citing striking similarities between the T1 and a low-cost Chinese phone, the Revvl 7 Pro 5G, made by Wingtech, a Chinese manufacturer.

Weaver emphasized the logistical and technical difficulty of building a phone in the U.S. without a long-term investment in domestic infrastructure, saying:

“Just to manufacture a phone in the U.S. with the chipsets needed with the U.S. supply chain, is a massive undertaking—and that’s also the reason why we happen to be the only ones doing it.”

Liberty Phone

He noted that even Purism, maker of the $1,999 Liberty Phone, must source a few components globally (like a crystal used in GPS chips) due to the lack of U.S. alternatives. It is also why Purism uses the qualified claim of Made in USA Electronics and publishes the country-of-origin for all major components right on the Liberty Phone product page.

Liberty Phone

Weaver revealed that a commercialization partner associated with the Trump Organization had discussed the Liberty Phone in the past year to explore what it takes to build a truly American-made phone—highlighting how difficult the Trump Mobile claim is to fulfill. He warned that companies misrepresenting such claims could face FTC scrutiny.

“I do believe there will be a massive amount of Trump Mobile backpedaling,” Weaver added.

Ultimately, the report underscores that Purism remains the only known company manufacturing smartphone electronics in the U.S., while Trump Mobile’s claim is certainly misleading based on all publicly available information including: timelines, specs, and supply chain realities.

See the CNN report here