Former U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed discontent over Apple’s increasing shift of iPhone production to India, suggesting the move undermines efforts to bolster American manufacturing.
Speaking during an appearance in Qatar, Trump said he recently had a “little problem” with Apple CEO Tim Cook. “Tim’s a friend, and I’ve supported Apple strongly,” Trump remarked. “But now I hear Apple’s expanding in India—big time. I told him, you want to support India? That’s fine. But don’t forget where you sell the most.”
Apple has begun ramping up its Indian operations in an attempt to sidestep U.S. tariffs, which have impacted imports from China. The strategy involves producing more iPhones for American consumers in India, a move that could help the company save close to $900 million in the current quarter alone, according to internal forecasts.
While Apple hasn’t issued a direct comment on Trump’s remarks, the tech giant has made no secret of its plans to diversify its manufacturing footprint. For years, the company has been building out production lines in India and hiring local talent, gradually shifting away from its deep reliance on China.
Trump, whose administration imposed sweeping tariffs to encourage domestic manufacturing, criticized Apple’s overseas investments despite acknowledging the company’s broader efforts to grow its presence in the United States. “They’re investing $500 billion here and creating jobs, but what I want is the iPhone—the crown jewel—made right here,” he said.
Analysts argue that bringing full iPhone production to the U.S. remains highly unlikely in the near term. Manufacturing an iPhone domestically could push its retail price to as much as $3,500 due to higher labor and infrastructure costs, according to Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives.
Apple previously announced a long-term investment plan to inject $500 billion into its U.S. operations over the next four years, including the creation of 20,000 new jobs and expanded Mac Pro manufacturing at facilities in Texas. These moves form part of Apple’s broader effort to diversify its global supply chain in response to trade tensions and pandemic-related disruptions in China.
Despite political pressure, experts agree that economic realities make large-scale domestic iPhone production an uphill battle. As Apple balances policy demands with market logistics, the debate over where the world’s most iconic smartphone should be built remains far from settled.
