Donald Trump has expressed dissatisfaction over Apple’s decision to manufacture iPhones in India
Although Apple has started shifting iPhone production from China to countries like India and Vietnam to avoid tariffs, former U.S. President Donald Trump has said he’s “a little” upset that the company is choosing India over the United States.
Speaking to CNBC, Trump mentioned that he told Apple CEO Tim Cook he expects Apple to manufacture iPhones in America instead of expanding in India, which he described as one of the most heavily tariff-imposing nations in the world. He claimed he reminded Cook of how supportive his administration had been toward Apple in the past, and urged the tech giant to bring more manufacturing back to the U.S.
For years, China has been the primary hub for assembling Apple devices, with over 90% of high-end iPhones built there by Chinese suppliers. However, after the trade war and tariffs under Trump’s presidency, companies like Apple have increasingly moved operations elsewhere to minimize costs.
Trump also stated — without providing specifics — that Apple plans to increase its U.S. manufacturing soon. While Apple currently works with TSMC on chip production in the U.S., no iPhones are assembled domestically at this time.
In early 2024, Apple pledged to invest $500 billion in the U.S. over four years, focusing mainly on research and development, data centers, and semiconductor production — though it has not announced any plans to start building iPhones on American soil.