Apple Commits $100 Billion to U.S. Manufacturing with Golden "Made in USA" Plaque Gift for Trump

Apple CEO Tim Cook’s $100 billion pledge to boost U.S. manufacturing came with a symbolic gesture: a glass “Made in USA” plaque mounted on 24-karat gold, presented to President Donald Trump during a meeting in the Oval Office. The gesture, described by Cook as a “unique unit of one,” emphasized Apple’s renewed commitment to domestic production and deepened the already close relationship between the tech giant and the administration [1]. Cook highlighted the American origins of the gift, noting that the glass was designed by a former Marine Corps corporal at Apple, and the gold base came from Utah. Trump responded with praise, calling it “fantastic” [1].

The $100 billion investment, part of Apple’s broader “American Manufacturing Program,” expands the company’s long-standing partnership with Corning, a New York-based glass manufacturer. This brings Apple’s total commitment to U.S. manufacturing to $600 billion over the next four years, building on a February pledge of $500 billion [1]. The move aligns with Trump’s efforts to revitalize American manufacturing and comes amid a broader trend of tech firms pledging billions to domestic production. However, analysts have previously warned that such shifts are not always cost-effective or logistically feasible [1].

Trump has been pushing U.S. companies to bring manufacturing home, with Apple being a particular focus. In May, he threatened a 25% tariff on Apple if it continued to rely on overseas manufacturers. Last month, Cook estimated a $1.1 billion hit from tariffs due to the company’s reliance on production in China and India [1]. The new investment effectively shields Apple from the proposed 100% tariff on semiconductor chips, a policy Trump announced during the Oval Office meeting with Cook [1].

Cook’s relationship with Trump has been characterized by strategic concessions and diplomatic maneuvering, earning him the nickname “Trump Whisperer” [1]. Joseph Badaracco, a professor at the Harvard School of Business, noted that Cook’s gift served as a subtle but effective way to distinguish Apple from other companies making similar manufacturing pledges [1]. While the gesture may not be seen as ethically profound, it reinforced the message that Apple is prioritizing U.S. interests under the current administration [1].

The broader corporate landscape shows a pattern of major companies making large domestic investment promises. In April, Nvidia pledged $500 billion for U.S. AI manufacturing, while pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly announced plans to double its U.S. manufacturing investment to $50 billion [1]. These commitments reflect growing pressure from the Trump administration to shift production back to the U.S., a shift that may continue to shape corporate strategy in the face of regulatory and policy uncertainty [1].

Source: [1]Apple CEO Tim Cook’s $100 billion commitment to U.S. manufacturing came with a gift for Trump: a glass ‘Made in USA’ plaque mounted on 24-karat gold (https://fortune.com/2025/08/07/apple-trump-tim-cook-100-billion-manufacturing-gift-plaque-gold/)