President Donald Trump has called on Apple CEO Tim Cook to stop manufacturing iPhones in India for the US market, urging a stronger focus on domestic production. During a state visit to Qatar, Trump said he expressed concerns to Cook about Apple expanding its Indian operations, declaring, “I don’t want you building in India.” He later claimed the tech giant would increase its US production, although Apple has yet to confirm any changes to its global strategy.

Apple has been steadily moving production to India in a bid to reduce its dependence on China, with plans to supply most US-bound iPhones from Indian factories by the end of 2026. The move is part of a broader strategy to diversify supply chains amid geopolitical tensions and tariff threats. However, Trump’s remarks could complicate this shift. Experts argue that setting up iPhone production in the US is nearly impossible in the short term due to the lack of a comparable supply chain and higher labor costs.

India currently assembles over 40 million iPhones annually, accounting for 20% of Apple’s global output. The production surge—driven by partners like Foxconn and Tata Group—has made India a critical hub in Apple’s global operations. While Trump acknowledged India could build for its own market, he stressed that devices for US consumers should be made domestically. As Apple balances political pressures with operational realities, the viability of “Made-in-America” iPhones remains under serious scrutiny.