Donald Trump has issued a warning to technology corporation Apple through his Truth Social platform regarding the potential for iPhones to be manufactured outside the United States in the future.
Since the 47th president returned to office in January for his second term, he has implemented a series of consecutive tariff measures.
The resulting trade tensions have prompted numerous companies to question the administration’s policy decisions, including retail giant Walmart, which has cautioned customers about potential price increases in stores.
Earlier this month, Apple acknowledged that the company would face significant financial impact from the ongoing trade disputes resulting from Trump’s tariff policies.
The iPhone manufacturer indicated that tariffs imposed on various countries would result in approximately $900,000,000 in additional costs during the second quarter of the year, which concludes in June.
CEO Tim Cook announced that the majority of iPhones destined for the US market would be produced in India, while most iPads, Mac computers, and Apple Watches would be manufactured in Vietnam.
The company explained that this strategic decision followed Apple’s investment in establishing production facilities in countries other than China.
Trump has now threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on Apple products unless iPhone production occurs within American borders.
In his Truth Social statement, the president declared: “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. If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the US.”
Apple’s strategy to relocate iPhone manufacturing to India appears to be a persistent source of concern for Trump, as the president referenced this issue during a recent Middle East visit last week.
Despite the technology company’s manufacturing adjustments, some industry experts warn these measures may not be sufficient to prevent increased costs from affecting consumers.
Jacob Bourne, an analyst at Emarketer, observed: “The company’s proposed manufacturing shift to India raises pressing questions about execution timeline, capacity limitations, and potentially unavoidable cost increases that will shrink margins, be passed to consumers, or have a mix of consequences.”
Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, has projected that the next iPhone could cost as much as $3,500 per unit, representing a substantial increase from Apple’s current most expensive smartphone, the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which retails for $1,199.