May 15, 2025 — U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly criticized Apple CEO Tim Cook for the tech company’s growing investment in India, signaling renewed pressure for American corporations to bring manufacturing back home.
Speaking during a business event on his recent visit to Qatar, Trump disclosed a pointed exchange with Cook, saying:
“I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday. He’s building all over India. I don’t want you building in India unless it’s strictly for the Indian market.”
According to Trump, Cook agreed to expand Apple’s U.S.-based operations, a move the president framed as a win for American workers.
“We want you to build here. India can take care of themselves. They’re doing very well,” Trump added.
Apple’s Shift to IndiaApple has rapidly scaled its production footprint in India in recent years, amid efforts to diversify its supply chain away from China. During a recent earnings call, Cook confirmed that a majority of iPhones sold in the U.S. will soon be made in India, a move driven by rising tariffs, global tensions, and China’s manufacturing instability.
In the fiscal year ending March 2025, Apple assembled $22 billion worth of iPhones in India — a 60% jump from the previous year. Production is led by manufacturing partners Foxconn, Tata Group, and Pegatron, with major facilities in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Apple’s exit from reliance on China began in earnest following COVID-19 disruptions and has accelerated due to Trump-era tariffs and rising U.S.-China tensions.
Trade Deal DevelopmentsIn the same remarks, Trump revealed that India has offered the U.S. a zero-tariff trade deal on American exports — a significant shift in bilateral trade dynamics.
“They’ve offered us a deal where they’re willing to literally charge us no tariff,” Trump claimed, though details of such a proposal have yet to be confirmed by either government.
Observers note this could be India’s strategic attempt to preserve strong economic ties with Washington, particularly amid global competition over tech manufacturing and AI leadership.
While Apple has yet to announce any plans to manufacture iPhones in the United States, the company is clearly under growing political pressure to do so. Trump’s remarks come amid a broader push by U.S. lawmakers to reshore manufacturing, especially in critical industries like semiconductors, defense, and consumer electronics.
Apple, for its part, has emphasized that its global manufacturing diversification — particularly in India and Vietnam — is aimed at protecting supply chains and minimizing tariff exposure.
Still, with the 2026 U.S. election cycle approaching, corporate offshoring is likely to face intense political scrutiny.