Apple CEO Tim Cook says the iPhone maker is preparing to transform America’s manufacturing landscape with a multiyear, multibillion-dollar bet on factories across the country.
In an interview with CNBC’s Jim Cramer, Cook outlined a sweeping $600 billion commitment over the next four years, a scale of investment he argued could reshape not just Apple’s operations, but local economies nationwide.
“We can’t be everywhere. I wish we could, but we are putting $600 billion to work in the next four years,” Cook told Cramer. “And so it is an extraordinary commitment. And there’s 79 factories across the U.S. that will benefit from this.”
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Cook suggested the initiative would spark a “domino effect,” encouraging other corporations to follow Apple’s lead and build out facilities in communities where Apple sets up shop. He added that there will be “some surprises” in towns that have yet to learn Apple will be bringing business their way.
Big bets on glass and chips
Among the flagship projects is Apple’s $2.5 billion investment to expand its partnership with Corning and its glass factory in Kentucky. The facility will provide glass for all iPhones and Apple Watches, Cook said, describing the move as “a great start, and a very important one, because the glass is something you interface with all the time.”
Beyond glass, Apple’s plan stretches deep into semiconductors. The company has said it will partner with Taiwan Semiconductor, Texas Instruments, and Applied Materials to boost domestic chip production. Those efforts dovetail with broader U.S. ambitions to reassert leadership in semiconductor manufacturing, an area where Apple has become one of the world’s largest buyers.
Cook emphasized that Apple’s ambitions extend beyond bricks and mortar. The company is also investing in workforce development through its new “Manufacturing Academy” in Detroit. Apple intends to help train employees for the new roles and share its curriculum with community colleges, with a focus on preparing small and mid-sized businesses to thrive alongside Apple in these supply chains.
Apple’s massive domestic spending plan has not drawn pushback from investors, according to Cook. “I think most of our shareholders believe that we’re in the best position to, to make these type of decisions,” he said. “I haven’t gotten a single complaint about the $600 billion.”
Cook framed the move as not just corporate strategy but civic duty. He argued Apple’s scale gives it the ability—and the responsibility—to play a pivotal role in revitalizing American industry.
Tied to Trump’s tariff war
Behind Apple’s public narrative of community investment lies another critical driver: political pressure from Washington. President Donald Trump has made domestic manufacturing a central pillar of his economic agenda, repeatedly using tariffs as leverage against foreign-made goods, including electronics. During the height of Trump’s tariff battles with China, Apple was often singled out as a symbol of American dependence on Chinese supply chains.
Trump publicly pressed Cook to shift more Apple production to the U.S., warning that tariffs could hit iPhones and other devices assembled in China. While Apple managed to secure some temporary exemptions, the company knew it could not fully escape Washington’s crosshairs. Cook’s announcement of a $600 billion domestic investment plan is therefore widely seen as Apple’s effort to hedge against tariff risks, appease Trump’s administration, and demonstrate alignment with the “Made in America” agenda.
Apple’s push into semiconductors and factory buildouts also responds directly to Trump’s warnings that U.S. reliance on overseas production for critical technology—especially chips—was a national security vulnerability. Apple is thus seen as placing itself not only as a corporate innovator but also as a strategic partner in Washington’s bid to reclaim control over high-tech supply chains.
The $600 billion commitment is as much about optics as operations for the Cupertino giant. Cook’s comments about sparking a “domino effect” suggest the company wants to be seen as a catalyst for broader industrial revival, aligning with Trump’s rhetoric about rebuilding American manufacturing towns hollowed out by globalization.
The “Manufacturing Academy” in Detroit and workforce training efforts reinforce this narrative, showing Apple is not only building factories but also creating pathways for American workers to step into high-tech jobs.
While the company seeks to satisfy Trump’s calls for reshoring, it remains deeply reliant on Chinese manufacturing and global supply chains. Apple signals goodwill in Washington while ensuring its core overseas networks remain intact by pledging hundreds of billions to U.S. factories.
For Cook, this dual approach allows Apple to project patriotism at home, avoid punitive tariffs, and maintain the shareholder-friendly margins that come from globalized production. The strategy shows Apple responding not only to market forces but also to political ones.