Trump Slams Apple’s India Manufacturing Move, Urges Tim Cook to Prioritise US Jobs

US President Donald Trump publicly criticised Apple CEO Tim Cook on Thursday, expressing frustration over the company’s growing shift toward manufacturing in India.

Trump claimed he reminded Cook of Apple’s earlier pledge to invest $500 billion in the US—a commitment made in February that included promises of job creation and domestic growth.

Trump said:

“I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday. I said to him, ‘My friend, I treated you very good. You’re coming here with $500 billion, but now I hear you’re building all over India.’ I don’t want you building in India.”

For Trump, the concern is not just about Apple’s past actions, but its future direction.

As the company accelerates plans to produce 25% of its global iPhones in India, Trump questioned why more of that expansion is not happening on American soil.

Apple is continuing to reduce its dependence on China where roughly 90% of iPhones are still made.

Trump told reporters:

“I said to Tim, ‘Look, we treated you really good, we put up with all the plants that you build in China for years. Now you got to build us. We’re not interested in you building in India. India can take care of themselves… we want you to build here.’”

Trump Blames Apple’s India Plans for Strained Trade Talks

The exchange between President Trump and Cook took place amidst sensitive US-India trade talks, with Trump criticising India as “one of the highest tariff nations in the world.”

He claimed that New Delhi had proposed a new deal offering zero tariffs, suggesting India is actively trying to ease tensions and maintain favourable trade relations with Washington.

In line with his protectionist stance, Trump’s administration had earlier imposed a 26% “reciprocal tariff” on Indian goods—a rate that has since been temporarily lowered until July, serving as leverage in ongoing negotiations.

While trade diplomacy unfolds, Apple’s expansion in India is already in motion.

On Monday, Foxconn—Apple’s primary assembly partner—received approval to build a semiconductor facility in partnership with India’s HCL Group.

The move reflects Apple’s broader effort to diversify its supply chain away from China, where about 90% of iPhones are still produced.

Rising labour costs, geopolitical risks, and supply chain volatility have pushed Apple to explore alternatives in India and Vietnam.

India, for its part, has welcomed Apple with land grants, subsidies, and policy incentives aimed at deepening its role in global tech manufacturing.

Trump, however, remains adamant that Apple should bring more of its production back to the US, even as industry experts argue that such a shift is economically unfeasible.

Estimates suggest that building iPhones entirely in the US could raise retail prices to as much as $3,500—an outcome that would likely alienate customers and hurt Apple’s profitability.

Currently, Apple manufactures only a limited number of products domestically, including the Mac Pro and a newly announced server facility in Texas for its Apple Intelligence platform.

While Trump has hinted that Apple will increase US production, he offered no concrete figures or timelines—and Apple has yet to confirm any changes.

In today’s globally integrated economy, is it realistic to expect a tech giant like Apple to bring manufacturing back home, or is this a political ideal at odds with economic reality?