The White House is doubling down on its push to bring iPhone manufacturing to the U.S., but Apple’s own leadership—past and present—says it’s a pipe dream. In a press briefing today, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt pointed to Apple’s $500 billion U.S. investment plan as proof that the tech giant could shift iPhone production stateside.
There’s just one problem: Apple’s CEOs have been saying for over a decade that it’s not feasible.
The White House’s Bold Claim
At today’s press conference, Leavitt argued:
“If Apple didn’t think the United States could do it, they probably wouldn’t have put up that big chunk of change.”
✅ 20,000 new U.S. jobs (mostly in R&D and AI) 4
But analysts were quick to counter: This isn’t new money.
- Gil Luria (D.A. Davidson): “Apple already spends $150B+ annually in the U.S. This pledge is just business as usual.” 4
- Alliance for American Manufacturing: “Show us iPhone production, then we’ll be impressed.” 3
Why Apple Says It Can’t Happen
Apple’s leadership has been brutally honest about the hurdles:
1. The “30,000 Engineers” Problem
In 2011, Steve Jobs told President Obama:
“The U.S. doesn’t have the 30,000 mid-level industrial engineers needed to support iPhone-scale production.” 3
Tim Cook echoed this in 2017:
“China’s supply chain flexibility is unmatched. You can’t replicate it overnight.” 3
2. The Foxconn Factor
- 700,000 workers in Zhengzhou’s “iPhone City” live on-site, working 24/7 shifts during launches.
- U.S. labor laws (and wages) make this model impossible.
3. The $30,000 iPhone
Analysts estimate U.S.-made iPhones would cost:
- $2,300 (basic model)
- $30,000+ (if tariffs apply to imported parts) 3
The Political Theater
This isn’t really about iPhones—it’s about:
🗳️ Election-year optics (“Bring jobs home!”)
🇨🇳 China decoupling (tech war escalation)
But as Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman notes:
“No tariff can uninvent global supply chains.”
What’s Next?
Apple’s real U.S. investments focus on:
🔹 AI servers (made with Foxconn in Texas) 5
🔹 Chips (TSMC’s Arizona plant) 4
🔹 R&D (20,000 new engineers) 7
Bottom line: Don’t expect “Made in USA” iPhones anytime soon.
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