Trump tells Apple’s CEO to stop expanding iPhone production in India

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly urged Apple CEO Tim Cook to scale back the company’s iPhone production expansion in India and prioritize U.S.-based manufacturing. The statement, made at a business summit in Doha, follows Apple’s recent announcement that it would begin importing Indian-manufactured iPhones to satisfy the majority of U.S. demand. 

Trump emphasized his concern over Apple’s increasing reliance on Indian manufacturing, citing India’s high tariffs and stressing the importance of bolstering domestic production. “I said to him, ‘Tim, you’re my friend… but I don’t want you building in India,’” Trump remarked, while claiming that Apple has agreed to ramp up its U.S. operations. However, no formal commitments or timelines were disclosed. 

Apple has already pledged a $500 billion investment over the next four years to enhance its American manufacturing footprint. This includes new facilities, 20,000 additional jobs, and the establishment of a manufacturing academy aimed at boosting local workforce capabilities. 

Trump’s remarks coincided with India’s recent approval of a $435 million Foxconn project to manufacture Apple chips, further signaling Apple’s intent to diversify away from China by deepening its presence in India. According to Bloomberg, Apple currently produces 20% of its iPhones in India, with projections to shift all U.S. iPhone imports from China to India by 2026. 

The geopolitical tension adds a new dimension to Apple’s global supply chain strategy and raises questions about the balance between cost efficiency and political influence. While not directly linked to AI, Apple’s global infrastructure and manufacturing shifts will likely impact the broader technology ecosystem, especially as AI and semiconductor innovation demand increasingly localized and secure production environments. 

Source: 

https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/15/trump-tells-apples-ceo-to-stop-expanding-iphone-production-in-india/