Trump Presses Apple to Halt India Production, Pushes for U.S. Manufacturing

DOHA, Qatar, May 16, 2025 — President Donald Trump said Thursday he told Apple CEO Tim Cook he opposes the company’s expanding production in India and wants the tech giant to increase manufacturing in the United States.

“I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday,” Trump said during remarks in Doha. “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.’”

Trump was referring to Apple’s February commitment to invest $500 billion in the U.S. Despite that pledge, Apple has been ramping up production in India, aiming to make about 25% of its global iPhones there within a few years.

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

The president said Apple plans to increase production in the U.S. but did not offer details. Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Apple currently assembles the majority of its iPhones in China, with about 90% of its flagship smartphone made there. It has been diversifying production into India and Vietnam amid supply chain pressures and geopolitical concerns.

Trump also criticized India’s trade policies, calling it “one of the highest tariff nations in the world” while saying New Delhi recently offered a no-tariff deal to the U.S.

Under Trump’s administration trade policies introduced in April, the U.S. imposed a 26% reciprocal tariff on Indian goods, temporarily lowered until July.

Apple’s main assembly partner in India, Foxconn, recently received government approval to build a semiconductor plant in partnership with HCL Group, reflecting India’s growing role in Apple’s supply chain.

Industry experts say shifting large-scale iPhone assembly to the U.S. is unlikely because of high costs, estimating a U.S.-made iPhone could cost between $1,500 and $3,500.

Currently, Apple assembles few products in the U.S., including the Mac Pro. In February, it announced a Texas facility to build servers supporting Apple Intelligence, its AI system.

Trump’s comments underscore ongoing political pressure to reshore manufacturing and reduce reliance on China. Apple’s production strategy aims to balance global supply chain risks with cost efficiency, even as U.S. trade and economic policies push for greater domestic investment.

We’re not interested in you building in India — we want you to build here.