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Apple CEO Tim Cook presented Donald Trump with a 24K gold plaque during a White House visit, while unveiling a $100B boost to U.S. manufacturing efforts to help Apple navigate looming chip tariffs.
During a carefully choreographed White House visit this week, Apple CEO Tim Cook gave Donald Trump a bespoke plaque made of Gorilla Glass and mounted on a 24-karat gold base, but the real value may have been what Apple took home.
The gift, custom-designed by a former U.S. Marine turned Apple employee, featured a large circular slab of Corning-made Gorilla Glass with a hollowed Apple logo at its center. Trump’s name was etched near the top, while “Made in USA – 2025” was engraved at the base alongside Cook’s signature. The disc sat atop a solid gold base sourced from Utah, and even the packaging was produced domestically.
Apple framed the gift as a tribute to American manufacturing a narrative the company has leaned into more aggressively amid rising trade pressure. And there was strategic intent behind the symbolism.
While the plaque stood out for its craftsmanship, its timing was more calculated than sentimental. Trump has threatened a sweeping 100% tariff on imported chips and semiconductors. But there’s a carve-out: companies manufacturing within U.S. borders can be exempted. For Apple, which remains dependent on global chip suppliers, especially in Asia, the risk is substantial.
To blunt that risk, Apple tacked on an additional $100 billion to its U.S. investment pledge, bringing the total to $600 billion. That figure includes plans for chip production, glass facilities, new data centers, and domestic campuses. Cook announced the expanded investment moments after presenting Trump with the gold-base “Made in America” display.
None of this appeared accidental. By aligning itself with the administration’s economic agenda, Apple shores up its chances of avoiding tariffs while reaffirming its ties with policymakers. It’s a familiar tactic. During Trump’s first term, Apple similarly sidestepped some tariffs by pointing to U.S. jobs and supplier partnerships.
Related: Apple Unveils $600B AMP Program to Boost U.S. Manufacturing
Despite the flurry of announcements and high-profile optics, the iPhone itself isn’t close to being made entirely in the U.S. Cook acknowledged that key components and final assembly still occur overseas, and shifting more of that to the U.S. would require further incentives and time.
That said, Apple claims it will soon produce 100% of the cover glass for iPhones and Apple Watches domestically, a step that, while small in the broader supply chain, gives it a concrete win to point to. For Trump, it’s partial validation of his “Made in America” push. For Apple, it offers breathing room amid rising global tensions.
With the prospect of new tariffs on Indian imports, another country where Apple is scaling operations, the company is navigating increasingly complex trade politics. It can’t afford to alienate either Washington or New Delhi. The gold gift may have been flashy, but it was also functional.
Would this kind of political maneuvering affect your view of Apple? Sound off in the comments.