The White House is backing a plan for Apple’s flagship iPhones to be manufactured in the US, despite skepticism from analysts and experts. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that President Donald Trump believes Apple’s $500bn investment will encourage the company to ramp up manufacturing in the US.
Trump reiterated his stance on Wednesday, stating that tariffs would make it an attractive option for companies like Apple to move into the US market. However, experts including Apple CEO Tim Cook and former CEO Steve Jobs argue that the US lacks the workforce needed to support such a massive undertaking.
Cook has previously stated that the quality of trained employees in countries like China is unmatched. In 2017, he said that it would be difficult to fill a room with tooling engineers in the US, compared to filling multiple football fields in China.
Analysts also reject the idea that tariffs will encourage Apple to build its products in the US. Laura Martin, a senior technology analyst, told CNBC that it’s unlikely to happen anytime soon and could take years. The anxiety over tariffs has already contributed to Apple’s market woes, with stock slumping about 31% this year.
The prospect of building iPhones in the US is seen as far-fetched by many experts, who argue that the country lacks the skilled workforce needed to support such a project.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/09/trump-apple-iphones-made-in-usa