Trump Claims Apple Will Build 3 Plants In The US

Apple has long had to contend with criticisms about its manufacturing practices by having their products made in China and selling them by the billions in the US. In a recent interview, President Trump claims that the company has finally promised to bring some of those manufacturing jobs to Americans by building three plants.

Trump made the statement to the Wall Street Journal, where he said that Apple CEO Tim Cook himself committed to the new manufacturing factories. The president made it a point to say that Cook called him to make the promise. Considering just how unreliable Trump’s claims and promises have been, however, it’s worth taking this news with a grain of salt.

What’s more, when the publication tried to reach out to Apple for a statement, the company naturally declined to offer anything of substance. This is expected of the iPhone maker, which is notorious for being secretive about practically every aspect of its business.

If Trump’s claim does prove real, it would constitute a monumental investment on the company’s side. As The Verge reports, it would also be a huge risk for Apple because it means a big change in how it gets its devices.

Aside from the cheaper costs of labor, there is also the matter of shielding itself from risks of defective parts that makes Apple more enthusiastic about foreign manufacturing. After all, the company could always source the parts from other makers without putting too much liability on Apple, which actually allowed the brand to dodge a bullet in the past.

All in all, the cons heavily outweigh the pros on Apple’s side if it decides to create not just one but three manufacturing plants in the US. This is why it’s quite likely that either Trump did not understand what Cook said or the Apple CEO never made such promises, to begin with.