US President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Friday to deliver a frank message to Apple: If the iPhones you sell in the US aren't built on American soil, you'll face a tariff of at least 25%. It's the latest move in a months-long push by the President to force one of the world's most powerful tech companies to bring more manufacturing home.

"I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone's [sic] that will be sold in the United States of America will 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. Thank your [sic] for your attention to this matter!" Trump wrote.

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The announcement quickly sent ripples through the markets, CNBC reported.  

In premarket trading, Apple's share price dipped more than 2%, suggesting investor jitters over the possibility of a higher-cost iPhone -- a product that accounts for roughly half of Apple's annual revenue.

Trump wants US-made iPhones

For years, Apple has depended on China for the final assembly of its flagship smartphones. However, more recently, the company has shifted some production to India to diversify its supply chain and hedge against Trump's ongoing trade war with China. It even recently chartered cargo flights to ferry 600 tons of iPhones, or 1.5 million units, to the US from India, Reuters reported.

Also: Tariffs will take a$900 million bite out of Apple next quarter, says Tim Cook

Cook also told investors that, going forward, the plan is to make the iPhone in India. "For the June quarter, we do expect the majority of iPhones sold in the US will have India as their country of origin," said Cook during a Q1 earnings call on May 1, "and Vietnam to be the country of origin for almost all iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and AirPods products sold in the US."

This workaround apparently isn't sitting well with Trump. He's now insisting that iPhones sold in the US be built domestically, warning that offshoring any part of the production line won't escape tariff consequences. 

Last week, during his Middle East trip, Trump said he took issue with Cook over the company's plan to manufacture iPhones in India. "I had a little problem with Tim Cook," said Trump, according to CNN. "I said to him, 'Tim, you're my friend. I treated you very good. You're coming in with$500 billion.' But now I hear you're building all over India. I don't want you building in India.'"

Also: Apple's response to trade tariffs? A$500 billion investment and thousands of US jobs

This latest threat adds to a growing list of grievances he's aired publicly against major American corporations. Just earlier this week, he called out Walmart -- telling the retailer to stop blaming him for tariff-related price increases and warning, "I'll be watching."

The impact of a 25% tariff on iPhones

's Adrian Kingsley Hughes already calculated the cost of an iPhone made in the US and said it isn't pretty.

Many industry analysts have said that moving iPhone assembly to the US would be a hugely expensive endeavor -- one that might push retail prices up to around$3,500. Keep in mind the iPhone 16 Pro costs roughly$1,000 today. 

Also: Are tariffs about to make your next iPhone way more expensive? It's complicated

If Apple did absorb some of the added expense, consumers would almost certainly still have to pay more.

What's next?

It's worth remembering that Cook attended Trump's January inauguration and reportedly donated$1 million to the inaugural fund. Also, according to Politico, Trump and Cook met at the White House earlier this week to discuss manufacturing and tech policy. 

Still, this latest salvo underscores just how fraught their relationship is becoming over supply chains and tariffs. Whether Cook and company can continue to negotiate with Trump or legally fend off a 25% tariff remains to be seen. 

Also: 3 Apple devices you definitely shouldn't buy this month (and 9 to get instead)

reached out to Apple for comment on Friday, but the company has yet to respond. 

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