Trump Criticizes Apple’s Expansion in India, Urges CEO Tim Cook to ‘Build in the U.S.

*By [TechCep Team]* *May 15, 2025* In a recent speech, President Donald Trump publicly rebuked Apple CEO Tim Cook over the tech giant’s increasing investment in India, reiterating his longstanding call for American companies to prioritize domestic manufacturing. Speaking at a public event, Trump described a private exchange with Cook, expressing both admiration and frustration. **“Tim, you’re my friend,”** Trump said, **“but I treated you very good… You’re coming here with $500 billion, but now you're building all over India.”** The comments reflect growing concerns from the Trump administration over Apple’s shifting global supply chain strategy, particularly as the company ramps up iPhone and component production in India—a move seen as part of its diversification away from China. --- ## Manufacturing Abroad Draws Ire Trump made it clear that despite Apple’s significant U.S. footprint, including tens of billions invested in American facilities and jobs, the expansion into India is unacceptable in his view. > **“I don’t want you building in India,”** Trump declared. **“You’ve got to build in the United States.”** He added that Apple had built plants in China *“for years”* with little pushback, but that now *“we’ve got to build us.”* The president’s comments underscore the administration’s ongoing economic nationalist agenda, aimed at revitalizing U.S. manufacturing and reducing reliance on foreign production. --- ## Tariffs and Trade with India Trump also used the platform to criticize India’s trade policies, describing the country as **“one of the highest tariff nations in the world.”** According to the president, Indian tariffs have made it difficult for American products to gain market access—though he claimed that Indian officials are now offering to eliminate tariffs as part of ongoing negotiations. > **“They’re willing to literally charge no tariff,”** Trump said. **“You couldn’t do business in India before… Now they’re talking about a deal.”** No official details have yet been released about such a deal by the Indian government or the U.S. trade office. --- ## Apple’s India Strategy Apple has significantly expanded its presence in India in recent years. The company now assembles several iPhone models in the country through contract manufacturers like Foxconn and Wistron, with some production intended for export. The move aligns with India’s own “Make in India” initiative, aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing and reducing reliance on Chinese imports. While Apple continues to invest heavily in the U.S.—including a $1 billion campus in Austin, Texas—its global production strategy has drawn scrutiny from the White House, where officials are increasingly pressing tech companies to invest more in American supply chains. --- ## Political Implications President Trump’s comments are likely to resonate with voters concerned about outsourcing, foreign competition, and trade imbalances. By framing Apple’s India investments as a threat to U.S. manufacturing, the president is reinforcing a core campaign message: that American companies must put American workers first. Whether this pressure will shift corporate strategies remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: under President Trump, the push to bring jobs back to the U.S. remains a top economic priority.