Trump Ally Slams Tim Cook for Delays in Shifting iPhone Production from China
Former White House trade advisor Peter Navarro has sharply criticized Apple CEO Tim Cook, accusing him of dragging his feet in reducing Apple’s manufacturing reliance on China.
“Since the first Trump administration, Cook has repeatedly asked for more time to relocate Apple’s factories from China,” Navarro said during a recent interview. “It’s become Silicon Valley’s longest-running drama.”
The criticism follows growing pressure from former President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly urged Apple to shift iPhone production to the United States. Although Apple has ramped up manufacturing in India in recent years to offset tariff costs, the bulk of iPhone assembly still takes place in China.
In May, Trump warned that iPhones built outside the U.S. could face tariffs exceeding 25%. He also reportedly told Cook directly, “I don’t want you building in India.”
Despite these calls, experts suggest that moving iPhone production entirely to the U.S. is unrealistic. Estimates indicate that domestically produced iPhones could cost consumers up to $3,500 due to higher labor and production costs.
Navarro remains unconvinced by such arguments. “With the rise of AI and modern manufacturing methods, there’s no reason Apple can’t produce iPhones in the U.S. or elsewhere,” he stated.
Currently, only a limited number of Apple products are assembled domestically. During Trump’s presidency, Apple did increase its U.S. investment by committing to build the high-end Mac Pro in Texas. Earlier this year, Apple announced plans to invest $500 billion in the U.S. economy, which includes assembling AI-related hardware such as servers.
