Trump Believes Apple Could Manufacture iPhones in the U.S.

[Velli]

I'm not sure if you have heard about Corvette cars, they have been very succesful in European Motorsport, such as Le Mans 24 racing.

And their "cheap" Corvette, is faster on tracks like Nurburgring than more expensive European cars, such as Mclaren's and Ferrari's.

Yes, I have heard about Corvette. Seen it live at Le Mans too. You know where I DON’T see them? On European roads.

But, I understand the concept of redirecting the conversation when you realise you ran out of arguments. But, the fact that Americans generally don’t understand the concept of quality feel over “performance per dollar” is why most luxury brands are European, and not American. US makers are good at delivering superfluous performance, or impressiveness, but once you scratch the surface it’s all cardboard and scotch tape. Corvette vs Ferrari is the perfect example of the brute force American vs Italian finesse. And the Americans don’t even understand why I would buy a Spaghetti Carbonara when I can buy a burger for half the price with more calories.

You know who actually won the Ford vs Ferrari bout? Take a lock at the market cap. Ferrari is worth about double of Ford. I’d say that outperforms a Nürburgring lap time.

(By the way, look up who won Le Mans the last two years).

 

[AppliedMicro]

Anyone who thinks Trump is dumb or incompetent is completely delusional and/or brainwashed by the leftist media.

Not sure if it’s sarcasm or the cognitive flexibility to change your mind and opinion, but I congratulate you on it.

Trump has had very successful first term, and has accomplished more in the first 70 days of his second term than any other president in history, with 70 countries now asking to make deals, and if they’re equitable, that should benefit Americans for decades to come.

Thanks - but I’ll side with the Karma*Police from six years ago.

He’s draining the swamp and all of its corruption,

…using the White House lawn as showroom for his buddy’s electric car company.

Draining the swamp of its corruption, yeah.

 

[Velli]

I'm not a Trump supporter, I'm not his target audience. But I do see what his voter base is complaining about, because I see it with my own eyes how many jobs are being outsourced. And this is not just cheap labor, this includes $800k/year jobs that are now being outsourced to Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Poland, India ...

But there is no unemployment issue. How many of the US population has a job due to international trade, import or export? Trump is banking on Americans selling to Americans making more jobs and more money that trading with the rest of the world. That is, according to every economist who doesn’t already have his head inside Trumps behind, a losing bet. As you will soon learn. Even if you believe it will work long term, the immediate effect is a decade of recession. Are you willing to pay that price? Are you willing for the unemployment rate to shoot through the roof while you are waiting for the supposed long term effect?

 

[Jonnod III]

Does Melania plug him every night to recharge? If so she needs to adjust his colour balance settings.

From what I have read, Melania would love to plug him in to the mains.

 

[JamesMay82]

We could all pay the increase but we just need to keep our phones longer than 1-2 years.

 

[johnsawyercjs]

All the bickering about a president they hate with all their heart because the media propaganda machine has succeeded so well.

The reasons Americans, and just about everyone else too, despise Trump isn't due to some nebulous nefariousness from "media propaganda". Nearly all of Trump's actions and statements, past and present, and their consequences, are objective, solid reasons most people despise him.

 

[uacd]

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[Colpeas]

They could certainly and I would like to see them do so but the biggest problem will be the unions who will try and extort everything they can from Apple. Were already seeing it with those idiots in retail. Get rid of the unions and you'll be fine.

Is that sarcasm or are you just so incredibly stupid?

 

[Colpeas]

Manufacturing iPhones in US is possible. Do y’all think US weapons are also being made in China and Russia? And how about American-made cars? Phones do not differ much. What will differ is that Apple would be able to control their manufacturing and supply chain more precisely than ever. It will take time but it must have happened during the first Trump term already! I really don’t understand why he backpedalled in 2016.

Even if baseline iPhone costs 2000$, so what? People will be more conscious when buying things, there would not be this culture when every iPhone that is just 2 years old is labeled “obsolete”.

But I doubt that it will ever cost more than what inflation costs. Somehow American-made cars are sold cheaper than European who have been outsourcing a lot from China in recent years.

On the other hand, people will re-evaluate what they need and what they want from a smartphone. There is already economy-class iPhone 16 which is not bad at all. Nowadays people are all crazy about triple cameras, lidars and stuff that really would not change the experience much. The 16e is a very good phone but every stupido tech blogger calls it “cheapo”. But you know what? Every iPhone feels cheapo nowadays, they have already started to use recycled materials here and there and build quality is no longer as it used to be anyway. Put a case on it and you won’t even notice you have a cheaper iPhone - keeps you connected, takes good photos, what else would you need?

Well, see, the last thing Apple needs is a conscious customer. If the base model iphone costs $2000 they will hardly sell enough of them to remain a company as big as nowadays. Which means massive layoffs, unemployment and everything that comes with it.

 

[seek3r]

in a country that doesn’t have an unemployment issue.

oh, dont worry, these tariffs and economic policies will fix *that*. We’ll have the biggest unemployment issue, it will be huge, rhe best, the whole world will stare [in horror] at our unemployment issues!

 

[Velli]

I won’t need to rant on too much. Those who are smart and prudent know what I’m talking about. The young gen don’t even realize because they’re too young and naive but made in USA was top shelf back in my day. And pride and craftsmanship quality was on display when building homes back after the war. The best homes built still standing are in the 50-60’s. Today’s craftsmanship and quality have been destroyed by the younger generation.

I have a friend in the UK living in a house built before USA existed. My wife used to live in a stone building constructed in the 14th century. A house from the 50’s “still standing” is not a brag. US history is short.

But I agree, quality has fallen to the wayside for “efficiency”, not just in US.

America is truly done for. And yes I’m proudly moving on with family to China because they will become the new USA of economic and innovation powerhouse.

All the bickering about a president they hate with all their heart because the media propaganda machine has succeeded so well.

It’s not overnight what Trump in trying to help fix but the short sighted young generation these days only think with personal feelings about everything and have absolutely no sense of how to live long and prosperous.

Sad times for us old Americans and I’m sad what America has become and will become based on all this hateful vitriol. South Korea, Taiwan, China quality were awful back then. Products were just terrible. But their govt said enough is enough we need to look into the future and they did it all with national pride themselves united. But Americans today just have no clue and are brainwashed to continuously hate.

China especially couldn’t build iPhones back then. But they knew they had to work and succeed and with that drive they beat every other country.

Wake up folks. Stop hating so much and sooner than later if you don’t speak Chinese you’re in for some major life changing events.

Good on you to see and understand that the world order is changing. I wish you the best of luck.

My realisation since “Trump I” has been that Trump is not a disease, he is a symptom. During Trump I I disliked Trump. Now, I dislike America, because I realised he is just the poster of the actual matter. He is the embodiment of all the predujices Europeans have about Americans - but he did not create those prejudices. Americans did.

 

[uacd]

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[H2SO4]

Trump is correct but as usual hasn't told the whole story.
The complete statement should have been that the iPhone could be made in the US but not in those numbers or for that cost.

 

[uacd]

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[bushman4]

Maybe in 5 years Apple could move to the US
Only problem is that the cost to move would be unrealistic as well as prohibitive
Also components of iPhone would have to be made here as well

 

[SpanishAppleNerd]

They could certainly and I would like to see them do so but the biggest problem will be the unions who will try and extort everything they can from Apple. Were already seeing it with those idiots in retail. Get rid of the unions and you'll be fine.

Get rid of labor rights, cos why not. Very Confederate of you

 

[shanson27]

A chinese video has made the rounds, mocking the idea of shifting global production from China back to the U.S.

 

[Velli]

Oh come on, Italian cars? Italian mass market is not Ferrari, those are crappy Fiats that rust in just 3 years off the factory. French manufacturing didn’t move further, their Renault is a joke, they better rename it to Default.

YOU diverted the discussion to talk about race cars, not me.

I didn’t say US makes crappy cars. I said they make cars we don’t want.

The only good European mass market that you will see on the roads is Volkswagen, but it is German not Italiën. These guys are good at pizza, pasta, espresso, fast cars but not slow, family, mass market stuff.

The reason there are not any American cars on EU roads is simple: tariffs and non-tariff barriers. Trump is no fool when he screams they are ripping America off, this is true. They can basically say something like “oh, your American trashcan generates more CO2 than ours. You get a ban!”. The result? Less cars on the roads, almost no American-made cars. Trumps want to tear this off, but the caveat? It will kill European Union🤣 Lobbying is in it’s fabric and both French and Italian manufacturers won’t be happy about that

You are only confirming my prejudices about American arrogance.

Trumps solution is not to make Europeans buy more American cars. It’s to stop Americans buying foreign cars. This DOES NOT make consumers or the country richer.

Edit: Your way of arguing is very fitting for a Trump supporter: “CORVETTE IS BETTER THAN FERRARI!!!” “I disagree, Ferraris sound better.” “ WHO CARES ABOUT FERRARI, WHY ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT FERRARI???”

Sigh.

 

[Imperial926]

Look - we here in the UK will survive all this madness! We have the people, the technology and .... the weather.
If you don't believe me just watch this!

 

[MilaM]

As a European I don't dispute that the trade relationship between China, the US and the EU needs some adjustment. Not going to get into details, but I learned many new things in the last week. Thank you, Mr. Trump for this 😜.

On the other hand, I think that the current US administration vastly overestimates their leverage over China and the rest of the world. Trump is stuck mentally in the 1980s and in my opinion just doesn't understand how the world has changed since then. He thinks he has all the cards. But in reality he is bluffing and betting the whole US economy on this play. I have a feeling that this time Xi Jinping will call his bluff. The consequences will be very ugly not only for the US, but for the whole world economy.

 

[Velli]

I get that. It will, indeed. On the other hand this will increase used iPhone userbase.

Please elaborate on how people not upgrading their phones increases the used phone user base.

 

[ThailandToo]

I truly don't know what universe Trump lives in that he thinks America can make anything cheaply that people will buy in mass.

We have the example already for some 70 years now. The Fender Stratocaster guitar. True, it's not iPhone-level complicated, it's frankly some wood, paint, a little nickel/steel and magnets. Still. The American instrument starts at $1500. The Mexican one is $700. The Indonesian one is $400.​

People don't buy the $1500 California option unless Sony just signed them, or they've been playing 20 years and are completely obsessed... most consumers just buy the Indonesian ones when they're $249 on Black Friday. Unless you specifically check, you'll never even know if it's a Mexi or American or Asian Strat.

Trumpers think they're ready for a $19.95 t-shirt becoming $68 overnight. They are not.

I always buy the USA-made version when given the option. Many people will. Always! The problem is all the products are made overseas because it made the CEOs and top 1% wealthy. There were incentives for the top 1% to eliminate the benefits then the workers didn’t want the jobs and work for free. It’s a vicious cycle that someone needs to stop. If the government doesn’t force it, the CEOs and shareholders will never give it back. All the people complaining don’t really even understand. Do you want your cheap iPhone so bad you’re willing to buy it from people who are treated like slaves in China? How about all the problems with how they treat Muslims? You can’t have it both ways. You either care about all people or only yourselves.

 

[Velli]

I always buy the USA-made version when given the option. Many people will. Always! The problem is all the products are made overseas because it made the CEOs and top 1% wealthy. There were incentives for the top 1% to eliminate the benefits then the workers didn’t want the jobs and work for free. It’s a vicious cycle that someone needs to stop. If the government doesn’t force it, the CEOs and shareholders will never give it back. All the people complaining don’t really even understand. Do you want your cheap iPhone so bad you’re willing to buy it from people who are treated like slaves in China? How about all the problems with how they treat Muslims? You can’t have it both ways. You either care about all people or only yourselves.

Nothing is black or white. It’s totally possible to care about some people but not try to save the whole world.

I don’t disagree with your description of the problem. I do disagree with Trump’s suggested “solution”. In Scandinavia we generally have it pretty good, compared to the rest of the world. The way we do it is through means that makes Americans scream COMMUNISM!!! AAAAHHHHHH!!! But in short, it’s about making rich people pay for poor people, instead of the other way round.

 

[killhippie]

That was from the days when April fools made fun of things like that library in Milton Keynes on TV, this year there were none, people are just to depressed with what they see while doom scrolling news clickbait, which seems to be dominated by Trumps America these days.

 

[bluecoast]

Well, see, the last thing Apple needs is a conscious customer. If the base model iphone costs $2000 they will hardly sell enough of them to remain a company as big as nowadays. Which means massive layoffs, unemployment and everything that comes with it.

Maybe it’s time for them to dust off that iPhone subscription service that they were working on.