U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a sweeping threat to impose a 25% tariff on all smartphones sold in the United States—unless they are manufactured domestically. The ultimatum, initially directed solely at Apple, was later broadened to include all smartphone brands, including Samsung.
Speaking to reporters in Washington on Friday, Trump justified the move as a push for “fairness,” noting that the tariff would apply universally to prevent preferential treatment.
“It would also be Samsung and anybody that makes that product, otherwise it wouldn’t be fair,” Trump said, adding that the tariffs could take effect as early as the end of June.
Although Apple’s design operations remain headquartered in the U.S., the majority of its iPhone production is concentrated in China—placing the tech giant squarely in the crosshairs of Trump’s renewed protectionist agenda.
In a Truth Social post, Trump revealed he had directly warned Apple CEO Tim Cook, saying he expected iPhones sold in the U.S. to be “manufactured and built in the United States—not India or anyplace else.”
“If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S.,” Trump declared.
The remarks follow similar comments made during a visit to Qatar earlier this month, where Trump again pressed Apple to reshore its production.
“We’re not interested in you building in India,” Trump reportedly told Cook. “We want you to build here.”
Apple’s main competitor, Samsung, which produces most of its smartphones in Vietnam, China, and India, is equally vulnerable under the expanded tariff threat. Together, Apple and Samsung account for approximately 80% of U.S. smartphone sales. Other manufacturers, including Google, Xiaomi, and Motorola, also rely heavily on overseas production.
Industry experts argue that Trump’s demand for domestic smartphone manufacturing is economically unviable and logistically impractical. According to Wedbush Securities, nearly 90% of iPhone assembly still takes place in China, despite recent efforts by Apple to diversify production to countries like India.
“Reshoring iPhone production to the United States is a fairy tale that is not feasible,” said Dan Ives, a senior analyst at Wedbush, in a note to investors.
Shifting global supply chains back to the U.S. would require Apple to fundamentally restructure its business model—a transition that could take years and drive up production costs significantly.
Apple’s stock has already begun to reflect investor concern. Shares fell 3% on Friday, capping a decline of more than 20% since Trump resumed office, amid fears over stricter trade policies and escalating tech-sector tariffs.
During his previous term, Apple often secured exemptions from China-focused tariffs. But this time, the company has become a consistent target of Trump’s economic nationalism.
In its last earnings call, Cook acknowledged the uncertainty around U.S.-China trade tensions and said potential tariffs could cost Apple nearly $900 million in the current quarter alone.
“Prices of handsets look set to rise,” said Susannah Streeter, analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown. “While die-hard Apple fans may still pay premium prices, middle-class buyers already facing inflation on essentials may begin to look elsewhere.”
This latest threat comes just days after the U.S. and China agreed to a 90-day truce in their ongoing trade dispute, temporarily halting the implementation of sweeping new tariffs. However, Trump’s latest comments have reignited fears that the détente may be short-lived.
