Tim Cook Went to Trump's Inauguration and All He got Was This Lousy Trade War
As US sales stall and iPhone costs continue to rise, Cook now faces an angry president, a tangled supply chain between India and China, and a reluctant customer.
BREAKING NEWS
Tim Cook cut a $1 million check to Donald Trump’s 2025 inaugural committee, and in return he’s getting publicly pantsed on Truth Social. That’s what we call a bad investment.
Despite that generous donation, Apple’s still catching heat from President Trump, who is once again threatening a 25% tariff on iPhones if they’re not built “entirely” in the U.S. Trump wants iPhones manufactured in America, right down to the microscopic screws and Face ID sensors. Which is rich, considering the only part of the iPhone currently made in the U.S. is the glass.
Apple’s been shifting production away from China, and fast. According to Canalys, India shipped 4.4 million iPhones in March compared to China’s 4.3 million. In April, India held steady at around 3 million. China? Fell off a cliff to 900,000. You’d think Cook might get a gold star for reducing dependence on a geopolitical rival. Instead, he’s staring down the barrel of MAGA tariffs.
It’s not like the business backdrop is forgiving either. U.S., European, and Chinese iPhone sales are flat or down. Some analysts think the 25% tariff could push retail prices as high as $3,500. That’s not an iPhone. That’s a MacBook that makes phone calls.
Cook has three options. One: pass the tariffs to customers and torch demand. Two: build iPhones in the U.S. and rebuild the entire supply chain from scratch. Three: ignore Trump and pray he gets distracted by Disney or the Fed.
But after dropping seven figures on a fruitless charm offensive, it’s looking like Tim Cook bought himself a front-row seat to a trade war. With the volume turned all the way up.
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