Trump’s Friday Announcement Rocks America

President Trump issued a strong warning to Apple on Friday, stating that the company must begin manufacturing iPhones sold in the United States within the country itself or face a 25% tariff. The message, delivered through a post on Trump’s Truth Social platform, marks a sharp escalation in pressure on the tech giant, which has already pledged a $500 billion expansion of its operations in the U.S. Trump’s demand comes amid reports that Apple is preparing to shift significant portions of its production from China to India.

In his post, Trump said he had previously made it clear to Apple CEO Tim Cook that iPhones intended for sale in the United States should be built domestically, not overseas. He went on to say that if Apple continues to manufacture the devices abroad, it will be required to pay a tariff of no less than 25% on those products. Later that same day, Trump expanded the scope of his statement during a conversation with reporters, indicating that the potential tariffs would not be limited to Apple. He said the tariffs would apply to all cellphone manufacturers that import devices into the United States.

Trump emphasized that the policy needed to be fair across the board, mentioning Samsung by name as another company that could be affected. He indicated the tariffs could take effect by the end of June and claimed he had an “understanding” with Tim Cook that iPhones assembled in India would not be allowed into the U.S. market without being subject to tariffs.

The White House did not respond to requests for clarification, and Apple also declined to comment on the matter. Analysts, however, were quick to weigh in on the economic implications of Trump’s demand. Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives warned that requiring Apple to build iPhones in the U.S. would dramatically increase production costs. He noted that the $1,000 price tag Americans are used to would likely skyrocket, with domestically produced iPhones costing upwards of $3,500 if built in places like Texas or New Jersey.

Such a shift could have significant consequences not just for Apple, but for the broader consumer electronics market and American consumers. While Trump’s push aligns with his broader agenda of promoting American manufacturing, industry experts are raising concerns about the feasibility and financial impact of such a policy.