Donald Trump u-turns on bold claim days after launch of $499 golden mobile phone

Earlier this month it was revealed The Trump Organisation expanded on their vision to 'Make America Great Again' by launching a gold phone.

Spearheaded by the president's eldest sons - Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump - the family confirmed the creation of 'all-American' phone carrier 'Trump Mobile', alongside a golden handset which allows Americans to make phone calls and browse TikTok patriotically. All for a measly $499 (£368).

The price of the Trump T1 mobile may seem like an absolute bargain, if that's your sort of thing, considering that a new iPhone will set you back around £1,099.

But what was really impressive was the promise that all Trump mobiles would be made in the US, a move which fits with the US leader's 'America first' schtick.

Somehow I don't think it'll look like this (Trump Mobile)

However it would appear this bold claim may have been made a little prematurely.

Trump organisation makes embarrassing U-turn days after launch

Following the confirmation that Trump T1 handsets would be available to the public from August, tech experts were quick to point out how the company's made in America claim wasn't ambitious, but downright impossible.

"They don't even have a working prototype. It's extremely unlikely," Prof Tinglong Dai, told the BBC when asked about the likelihood of this venture coming to fruition, while analyst Leo Gebbie told the broadcaster it would only be possible if US companies were importing the parts from abroad and then assembling the phones domestically.

It would appear this reality has since been acknowledged by the Trump Organisation, as 'Made in the USA' has since been quietly replaced by 'American-proud design' and 'brought to life right here in the USA.'

Or this... (X/@TrumpMobile)

Which certainly seems like a pretty clever way to dodge questions about exactly where the components for the phones were made and assembled.

Meanwhile, Erik Trump also appeared to dial down on the claims in a recent podcast episode, with the 41-year-old saying: "Eventually all the phones can be built in the USA."

Despite the backlash and the change in website wording, the Trump Organisation maintains claims that handsets will be built in the US, with a spokesperson telling Ars Technica: "The T1 phones are proudly being made in America. Speculation to the contrary is simply inaccurate. We're excited to launch the phones later this year."

When will Trump Mobile and the 'Trump phone' be available?

For anyone dying to join the great American mobile network, you'll be able to sign up for the network's '47 Plan' costing $47.45 (£34.61) on the Trump Mobile website if your phone is eligible.

Trump supporters when they find out the phone won't be exclusively made and manufactured in America (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, the handset isn't scheduled to launch until August, with a lack of clear details about the phone meaning it may be a surprise what anyone who pre-orders the phone actually ends up with.

Ars Technica has noted that phone specs listed for the mobile have been changed since the original launch, while 'official' images consist only of the gold AI mock-up and what appears to be an iPhone with an American flag stamped on.