Trump said he doesn't want Apple to manufacture in India, and has a "little problem" with Tim Cook

Amid growing geopolitical complexities, Apple’s attempt to diversify its production footprint has drawn unexpected criticism from former President Donald Trump, who is urging the company to scale back operations in India and focus more heavily on U.S.-based manufacturing.

Apple’s rapid expansion in India has been a strategic pivot in response to COVID-era disruptions and an increasingly strained U.S.-China relationship. The tech giant’s shift away from China was long in the making, but now, India has become a key hub, with iPhone production there surpassing $22 billion in the last fiscal year. That figure marks a dramatic year-over-year rise and highlights Apple’s ambitions to make India its primary base for assembling iPhones destined for the U.S. market.

However, Trump’s recent remarks suggest a desire to counter this momentum. Speaking during a visit to Qatar, he expressed dissatisfaction with Apple’s global manufacturing priorities, claiming that the U.S. has been generous to the company and should be the main beneficiary of its production plans. According to Trump, Apple has now agreed to ramp up domestic manufacturing—a move that could shift the company’s already complex global supply chain calculus.

Despite the political rhetoric, Apple has remained focused on long-term risk mitigation. CEO Tim Cook recently reaffirmed the importance of geographic diversification in the company’s supply chain strategy. While avoiding direct response to Trump’s comments, Cook emphasized Apple’s continued investment in the U.S., referencing a $500 billion multi-year plan and the upcoming opening of a high-end manufacturing facility in Texas.

India remains central to Apple’s supply ecosystem. Major partners like Foxconn and Tata Electronics have rapidly scaled operations in the region, with the latter overseeing key acquisitions and factory management that further entrench Apple’s presence there. The local support and tariff incentives offered by the Indian government have made it an increasingly attractive alternative to China.

As the 2024 U.S. election cycle approaches, corporate decisions by companies like Apple are once again being pulled into the political spotlight. While Apple remains publicly neutral, its global strategy will need to navigate not just logistical and economic factors—but renewed political scrutiny as well.