Trump Threatens Apple With Tariff After Previously Exempting Tech Company

President Donald Trump urged Apple CEO Tim Cook to move both iPhone manufacturing and assembly operations to the U.S in a Truth Social post Friday morning.

Trump said that Cook has been aware of his expectations to relocate the tech giant’s operations.

“I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone’s that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else,” he said in the post. “If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S. Thank your (sic) for your attention to this matter.” (RELATED: ‘Strong And Clear Message’: European Bureaucrats Slap American Tech Giants With Massive Fines)

American multinational companies increased their innovation spending in China by an average of 13.6% per year between 2003 and 2017, while similar spending in the U.S. grew by only 5% annually, according to an executive order Trump issued on reciprocal tariffs April 2. (RELATED: Apple Giving Massive Payout To Users Who Claim Their Phones Spied On Them)

The order also notes that products like smartphones, laptops, hard drives, and computer chips are frequently produced abroad.

The Trump administration later chose to exempt goods from Apple — America’s most valuable company — and other top global electronics manufacturers from the retaliatory tariffs on Chinese imports. (RELATED: Apple Shareholders Still Haven’t Given Up On DEI)

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 20: Apple CEO Tim Cook (C) sits next to Donald Trump Jr at the inaugural luncheon on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 19: U.S. President Donald Trump (2nd L) welcomes members of his American Technology Council, including (L-R) Apple CEO Tim Cook, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos in the State Dining Room of the White House June 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. According to the White House, the council’s goal is “to explore how to transform and modernize government information technology.” (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 23: Apple CEO Tim Cook listens as U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a roundtable with American and Indian business leaders alongside in the East Room of the White House on June 23, 2023 in Washington, DC. Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held the meeting to meet with a range of leaders from the tech and business worlds and to discuss topics including innovation and AI. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

“All products that are properly classified in these listed provisions will be excluded from the reciprocal tariffs imposed under Executive Order 14257, as amended,” the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said in an April 5 update.

📰 New from @FoxBusiness: “Behind the scenes: Tech titans meet Trump, Apple’s @Tim_Cook praises pro-business policies” pic.twitter.com/Nf0HBb7gI3

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 1, 2025

Cook met with Trump on Feb. 20, shortly after Trump imposed tariffs on imports from China, Mexico, and Canada earlier in the month. On Feb. 24, Apple announced plans to invest in the U.S. by hiring 20,000 workers over the next four years and opening a new AI server factory in Texas.