“We’re Not Interested In You Building in India”: Trump Warns Apple Over India Manufacturing

During a recent visit to Qatar, U.S. President Donald Trump revealed a pointed exchange with Apple CEO Tim Cook, criticizing the tech giant’s growing investment in India. Speaking at a business gathering, Trump said, “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.”

Trump claims the conversation ended with Apple agreeing to increase its production footprint within the United States. “We want you to build here,” he added. “India can take care of themselves. They’re doing very well.”

This comment follows Apple’s recent earnings call, where Cook emphasized India’s rising importance in Apple’s global supply chain. “A majority of iPhones sold in the U.S. will have India as their country of origin,” Cook said. The shift comes amid Apple’s efforts to diversify its manufacturing operations beyond China.

India has become a major hub for iPhone assembly, thanks largely to Apple’s manufacturing partners Foxconn and Tata Group. Foxconn operates a large-scale production facility in Tamil Nadu, while Tata has expanded its role by acquiring Wistron Corp’s India business and collaborating with Pegatron.

In the fiscal year ending March 2025, Apple assembled nearly $22 billion worth of iPhones in India — a 60% increase from the previous year, according to industry sources. The strategic pivot is driven by supply chain disruptions in China, rising geopolitical tensions, and U.S. tariffs on Chinese-made goods.

Apple’s gradual exit from China intensified after COVID-19 lockdowns crippled output at its largest facility in Zhengzhou. Trump’s trade war and the threat of additional tariffs pushed Apple and other tech firms to seek alternatives, with India and Vietnam emerging as key manufacturing bases.

In a related development, Trump claimed that India has offered the U.S. a trade deal with zero tariffs on American exports. “They’ve offered us a deal where they’re willing to literally charge us no tariff,” he said. While no details were disclosed, the announcement signals efforts from New Delhi to maintain strong economic ties with Washington, especially amid intensifying global competition.

Although Apple does not currently manufacture smartphones in the U.S., the company continues to face pressure from political leaders like Trump to reshore production. Apple has sought to reassure investors by stating that devices shipped to the U.S. in the upcoming quarter will increasingly originate from India and Vietnam, a move aimed at minimizing tariff exposure.

Despite the tension, Apple remains committed to expanding its global manufacturing base. However, as political rhetoric heats up in the U.S. ahead of the next election cycle, corporate decisions around where and how to build may face renewed scrutiny.