Former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly criticized Apple for expanding manufacturing in India. He directed his comments at Apple CEO Tim Cook during a media interaction on May 15, urging the tech giant to shift production efforts back to the United States.
Trump’s remarks follow news of Apple’s key supplier, Foxconn, increasing operations in India. Trump voiced concerns that Apple’s overseas growth is costing American jobs, despite the company’s $500 billion investment plan for U.S. development.
“Build Here, Not in India,” Trump Says
“I treated you very well,” Trump said he told Cook, “but now I hear you’re building all over India.” He went on to say, “We’re not interested in you building in India… we want you to build here.”
Trump claimed Apple would boost its U.S. manufacturing, but he offered no clear timeline or details. These statements reflect his ongoing push to bring manufacturing back to America and reduce reliance on international suppliers.
India Now Produces One in Five iPhones
Apple does not directly own its suppliers like Foxconn or Tata Group, but it relies on them heavily. India now produces 20% of all iPhones, a figure that’s expected to grow. Foxconn plans to double production in India by the end of 2025.
Apple has been steadily diversifying its supply chain. The company and its partners have invested billions to shift operations from China to India and Vietnam. This move was partly driven by pandemic-related factory disruptions and China’s power cut policies.
U.S. Production Faces Key Challenges
Trump and other officials believe Apple could move iPhone assembly to the U.S. once robotic systems become more advanced. However, experts argue the U.S. lacks both the skilled labor and rare materials required for large-scale smartphone manufacturing.
Apple has not commented on Trump’s latest remarks. But for now, India continues to play a growing role in the company’s global supply strategy.
