You can flash yourself GrapheneOS with your own keys for the bootloader. Then again "I can't make sure all manufacturers aren't in collusion" when FBI sues Apple and others (and fails) over suspects' phone access is quite different from "every device sold in the country must have government malware", as it is in China.
I can't find a device in the USA that doesn't come with government malware. Is this another instance of the USA accusing China of everything the USA is doing (like with the credit scores)?
For instance, if you use an Apple phone and the government wants to see the pictures you took, they can just get a copy of them from Apple using iCloud.
Yes, using a warrant from a court. If the government wants to break into my house they can also do that with a warrant. Not exactly the same as having a key to my house though, and very far from a malware.
Also to be more specific, In apple ecosystem I can opt for encryption where they can't
You're free to opt out of icloud/gcloud and the government will have a tough time extracting the pictures from your phone, as multiple lawsuits have shown.