US President Donald Trump continues to increase his pressure on technology giants. In a last statement that directly targets Apple, iPhone production should be done directly in the USA, not in countries like India. Addressing the public via Truthsocial, Trump said that this demand is not new and that he informed Tim Cook a long time ago. Trump said that if Apple does not consider this call, it may face 25 percent customs duties.
Trump’s output caused a rapid decrease in Apple’s shares; The company’s stock market value was about 3 percent loss. The statement did not contain clear information about the details of the taxation, but the markets took this message seriously. This message, especially in a period when Apple reshapes the global production strategy, shows that political pressure on the company continues. Apple has not yet given an official response.
Donald Trump said he was uncomfortable with the shift of iPhone production to India
Apple has shifted a significant portion of iPhone production to India to reduce the effects of US-China trade tensions. As the company entered 2025, most of the iPhones sold in the United States will be produced at the facilities in India. In addition, products such as Mac, iPad and AirPods are now produced in Vietnam and offered to the US market. With this strategy, Apple aims not only to gain logistics flexibility, but also not to be affected by Chinese taxes.
However, Trump does not find this production structure sufficient and wants American -based companies such as Apple to move their production to the US territory. According to him, global production does not contribute to the national economy and leads to loss of labor. This perspective is the continuation of Trump’s understanding of “producing in America”, which is frequently expressed under the presidency of the past. In the new period, it is noteworthy that this discourse is not only supported by rhetoric, but with direct economic measures.
In terms of Apple, it is not technically and economically easy to move production to the USA. The company’s supply chain in Asia has been established for decades and is quite integrated. In the USA, realizing a production on this scale requires serious investments in terms of both infrastructure and labor force. Moreover, it would be inevitable for this transition to be reflected on product prices.
Trump’s warning shows that companies have to make decisions not only global, but also local political dynamics. Apple’s production decisions are no longer based only on productivity or logistics advantages; It is shaped under the influence of political pressures and public opinion perception. Although there is no election atmosphere in 2025, Trump’s statements are a sign that he will continue his messages of economic nationalism.
Although Apple may seem reluctance to shift to the United States, there may be a partial return if political pressure increases. However, the realization of such a change will require time and great cost. In the short term, Apple is seen as a more applicable solution to increase the production volume in countries such as India and Vietnam. But in the long run, how the company will respond to these pressures continues to be a matter of curiosity.
Trump’s discourses are also an open message to other technology giants. It is estimated that such calls to revive the industrial infrastructure in the USA will not be limited only to Apple and similar demands may come up in different sectors. Apple’s response seems to affect not only the strategic aspect of the company, but also the general production dynamics of the technology sector.