Trump’s Made-in-America iPhone may not happen anytime soon

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Despite past calls to make iPhones in America, President Trump seems to have backed off that demand, at least for now. 

That’s because Apple just announced a $100 billion investment in the US, which appears to be enough to keep the administration satisfied.

Here’s the reality: iPhones are still made overseas, with about 95% of their parts sourced from outside the US and final assembly still happening in other countries. 

Nothing significant has changed in Apple’s manufacturing approach. But the company’s hefty new investment and a symbolic plaque ceremony were enough to earn praise from Trump.

At a recent press briefing, Apple CEO Tim Cook was asked about bringing iPhone assembly to the US. Before he could respond, Trump jumped in, downplaying the issue. (Via: AppleInsider)

He acknowledged the challenges Apple would face moving production to the US, saying the current system is too entrenched overseas. 

Still, he left the door open for future incentives, saying, “Maybe one day.”

Trump then shifted focus, praising Apple’s investment and claiming, “Apple’s coming back to America” — even though no major changes to manufacturing locations were announced.

The timing of this is important: Trump recently announced that companies already investing in the US would be exempt from upcoming 100% tariffs on semiconductors. 

While it’s unclear if Apple would have been directly impacted, the exemption now means zero cost impact from the tariffs for Apple.

In short, Apple seems to be playing a long-term strategy with the Trump administration, meeting just enough expectations to avoid penalties while keeping production costs low.

Tim Cook emphasized that the investment will still create thousands of jobs and increase the use of US components in Apple products globally.

While iPhones won’t be assembled in the US anytime soon, the political message has been delivered. 

The hope for consumers? That playing nice with Washington might help Apple keep prices down, maybe even when the iPhone 17 hits shelves in September.

Is Apple’s $100 billion US investment enough to satisfy “Made in America” goals, or should the administration push harder for actual manufacturing relocations? Do you think these big investment announcements are genuine commitments to American jobs or just political theater to avoid tariffs? Tell us below in the comments, or reach us via our Twitter or Facebook.