Trump’s iPhone tariff linked to Tim Cook dinner’s absence from Center East journey: Report
A brand new report from The New York Instances means that the lately introduced 25% tariff on iPhones imported into america might have been triggered by Apple CEO Tim Cook dinner’s choice to skip a visit to the Center East with former President Donald Trump.
On Might 23, 2025, Trump declared on his Reality Social platform that Apple could be required to pay the hefty import tariff, citing the corporate’s ongoing reliance on abroad manufacturing. This announcement reportedly got here as a shock to each Apple and members of Trump’s personal administration.
Snub on the Summit
Between Might 13 and Might 16, Trump visited the Center East accompanied by senior executives from a number of main American corporations, together with Nvidia, AMD, Citigroup, and OpenAI. Notably absent was Apple, and particularly Tim Cook dinner, who reportedly declined an invite to hitch the delegation.
In response to unnamed sources cited by the New York Instances, this snub irritated Trump. Throughout the journey, he made a number of pointed remarks about Cook dinner’s absence. At one occasion, Trump reportedly stated to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang: “I imply, Tim Cook dinner isn’t right here, however you’re.” Later in Qatar, he informed attendees that he “had somewhat drawback with Tim Cook dinner.”
Shortly after getting back from the journey, Trump introduced the brand new tariff, ostensibly as a measure to strain Apple into shifting iPhone manufacturing to america.
Apple Caught Off Guard
Apple had already been bracing for trade-related headwinds following the April rollout of Trump’s “reciprocal” tariff coverage. The corporate had beforehand fast-tracked shipments of iPhones to the U.S. to beat earlier tariff deadlines and managed to safe a brief exemption.
Nevertheless, the brand new 25% import tax, set to start in June, seems to have been unanticipated. It complicates Apple’s plans for the iPhone 17 launch in September and provides to the corporate’s estimated $900 million tariff-related prices for the present quarter.
There’s additionally uncertainty about whether or not this new tariff will probably be stacked on prime of different measures being proposed underneath a separate semiconductor-focused nationwide safety investigation.
Altering Dynamics
Whereas Cook dinner has traditionally maintained a working relationship with Trump, even attending White Home occasions and reportedly donating $1 million to Trump’s inauguration, the dynamic seems to have shifted. Most lately, Cook dinner additionally opted out of an in-person look at a White Home tech summit, selecting as a substitute to hitch remotely.
Apple has but to touch upon both the tariffs or the New York Instances report.
