Trump does not want Apple making more iPhones in India

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed concern over Apple's growing iPhone production footprint in India, telling Apple CEO Tim Cook that he opposes further expansion of manufacturing operations outside the United States.

"I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday," Trump said during a visit to Qatar on May 15. "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."

"I said: Tim, look, we've treated you really good. We put up with all the plants that you built in China for years. Now you got to build us. We're not interested in you building in India," Trump added.

Trump claimed that, following his conversation with Tim Cook, Apple would increase production in the United States. In February, Apple committed to investing $500 billion in the U.S. economy over a four-year period. 

However, the prospect of moving large-scale iPhone production to the U.S. remains unlikely due to constraints related to labour, supply chains, and domestic manufacturing infrastructure. Apple has significantly expanded its production in India in recent years as part of a broader strategy to reduce reliance on Chinese factories amid mounting geopolitical tensions. 

Following Trump's announcement of new tariffs, The Financial Times reported in April that Apple intends to produce all iPhones destined for the U.S. market in India by the end of 2026.