Made-in-America iPhone not happening anytime soon

A made-in-America iPhone seems to no longer be a priority for President Trump after Apple’s additional $100 billion investment in the United States and local component use.

Nothing really changed with Apple’s latest $100 billion investment announcement. The iPhone is still assembled overseas, and something like 95% of parts are sourced from outside the United States.

However, the announcement and commemorative plaque seem to strike enough investment in the United States to appease President Trump in the short term. During the press briefing, Apple CEO Tim Cook was asked about final assembly in the United States, in which President Trump interjected, dismissing the question.

“He makes many of the components here, and we’ve been talking about it, and the whole thing is set up at other places, and it’s been there for a long time, so in terms of cost and all,” Trump said on Apple’s difficulties bringing final assembly to the United States. “But I think we may incentivize him enough that one day he’ll be bringing that — but he brings most of the stuff — look, he’s not making this kind of an investment anywhere else in the world, not even close.”

“Apple’s coming back to America,” Trump concludes.

The statement was made as Cook tried to explain that its investment will bring thousands of jobs and more American hardware to iPhones sold around the globe. Trump’s statement reflects that while he’d like to see iPhones built in America, Apple’s efforts in the short term are enough for now.

The Trump playbook

The dismissal of building iPhones in the US was shared shortly after President Trump revealed that companies already investing in the United States would be exempt from new 100% semiconductor tariffs. While it remains to be seen how Apple would have been affected by these new tariffs, they will now incur no cost.

Apple and Cook are playing the long game with the Trump administration. The plaque and additional $100 billion investment is just another part of Cook’s many attempts to keep Apple in good favor.

Apple and Cook will still exist well after the Trump administration ends, so if it is going to do so without taking on excessive and unnecessary costs, it has to play along with the administration’s minimum expectations. Perhaps all of this will lead to iPhone 17 launching with minimal, if any, price changes in September.