This week, the Trump Organization—the family business of former President Donald Trump—announced its latest venture: a smartphone they claim will be manufactured in the United States. However, an industry expert asserts this is virtually impossible.

According to ABC News, Trump Mobile will soon launch the “T1” model, priced at $499 per unit. The company is offering monthly plans for $47.45 (a nod to Trump being the 45th and 47th U.S. president) and promises to use the networks of major carriers (Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T). However, CNBC reported that the phones will likely be manufactured in China.

Todd Weaver, founder and CEO of Purism—the only U.S.-based smartphone manufacturer—claims it’s impossible to eliminate China from the supply chain. In an interview with NBC News, Weaver explained that producing a phone entirely in the U.S. would cost significantly more than Trump Mobile’s target price for the T1.

Purism’s Liberty Phone, priced at $2,000, is more expensive than the iPhone 16 Pro but offers only half the storage capacity. It also has a bulkier design and limited app availability. While 90% of its components come from the U.S., Canada, and Europe, Weaver admitted that a critical glass component for the motherboard is only sourced from China.

“There still isn’t an alternative supplier for that key component,” Weaver stated.

The executive also noted that Purism took six years (since its founding in 2014) to begin manufacturing phones, whereas Trump Mobile claims it will develop one from scratch and launch it by August. Weaver also criticized Trump’s unpredictable tariff policies, which make long-term business planning difficult in such a volatile economic climate.

“It’s disastrous,” he said. “Without certainty or predictability, it’s extremely difficult for any business—whether in tech, textiles, or any other industry—to make long-term decisions in such an unstable environment.”