Trump says he has a ‘little problem’ with Tim Cook

Former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration with Apple CEO Tim Cook over the company’s recent decision to manufacture iPhones for the U.S. market in India rather than domestically.

Speaking during a visit to Qatar on Thursday, Trump said, “I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday. I said to him, ‘Tim, you’re my friend. I treated you very good. You’re coming in with $500 billion.’ But now I hear you’re building all over India. I don’t want you building in India.’”

Trump, known for pushing companies to manufacture in the United States, imposed sweeping tariffs during his presidency in an effort to boost American industry, reduce trade deficits, and generate revenue for tax cuts. These tariffs made it more expensive for companies to import goods, including electronics like iPhones.

In response, companies such as Apple began looking for ways to reduce costs, including moving production outside China to places like India. Apple announced that rising tariffs could increase its production costs by $900 million in just one quarter, prompting the company to shift iPhone manufacturing to India.

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently told analysts that he expects most iPhones sold in the U.S. will soon be made in India. The tech giant has been gradually expanding its presence there for several years, building factories and hiring local workers. However, producing iPhones in the U.S. remains unlikely due to high labor costs and the complexity of Apple’s global supply chain.

Despite pressure from the Trump administration, Apple has no current capacity to build iPhones in America. Analysts say the move is practically impossible—an iPhone made in the U.S. could cost up to $3,500, according to Dan Ives, Head of Technology Research at Wedbush Securities.

Still, Apple has taken steps to increase its U.S. investments. In February, the company announced a $500 billion plan to expand its operations across the U.S. over the next four years, aiming to create 20,000 new jobs. This includes manufacturing some Mac Pro computers at facilities in Texas, and continuing to diversify its supply chain after disruptions in China during the pandemic.

While Trump wants Apple to prioritize American production, industry experts note that global tech supply chains can’t be restructured overnight. In the short term, India offers Apple a more cost-effective way to continue producing its most popular product while dodging steep U.S. tariffs.

Apple has not yet responded to Trump’s recent remarks.