Time for America to Start Making iPhones — And Stop Making Excuses
By: Ya Libnan, Op-ED
President Donald Trump has said it clearly:
'America doesn't want to make T-shirts and sneakers; it wants to build technology.'
And he's right. America must stop making excuses and start making things again — especially the very devices we use every day, like the iPhone.
For years, critics have claimed that moving iPhone production to the U.S. would be impractical, even economically disastrous. Some analysts went so far as to suggest a U.S.-made iPhone would cost $3,000 or more. This is not just wrong — it's deliberately misleading.
The reality? Assembling an iPhone takes about
30 to 60 minutes
. Even if that hour of labor were paid at U.S. wages — say
$30–$40 an hour
— the additional cost per device would be
no more than $40
. That's a rounding error for Apple, which sells more than
200 million iPhones
annually and boasts over
$150 billion in cash reserves
.
In 2023, Apple earned
$383 billion in revenue
and nearly
$100 billion in net income
. The company has the resources, expertise, and influence to lead a domestic tech manufacturing revival. The labor cost gap is not a legitimate barrier — it's a convenient excuse for avoiding the short-term challenges of restructuring.
Yes, manufacturing infrastructure costs billions. But Apple has the capital. The U.S. has the workforce. And Foxconn, Apple's main assembler, has already proven it can move production lines quickly and efficiently — it has done so in
India, Vietnam, and Mexico
, often at the request of Apple itself.
If India and Vietnam can import subassemblies and handle final iPhone assembly, why can't the United States? This notion that the U.S. must rebuild the entire supply chain from scratch is disingenuous. The truth is that America can — and should — enter the supply chain strategically, focusing on final assembly, testing, and packaging to start.
Reshoring advanced manufacturing isn't just about jobs — although those would be significant. It's about
strategic autonomy
,
technological independence
, and
economic leadership
.
It's about protecting core industries from foreign leverage. It's about building regional economies in places like
Ohio, Michigan, Texas
, and other states with deep manufacturing roots. It's about restoring a culture of making — not just consuming.
This isn't a matter of possibility. It's a matter of
political will and corporate leadership
.
If President Trump's administration is serious about bringing back American manufacturing, the first place to start is with the iconic product stamped 'Designed by Apple in California.' Let's make it
assembled in America
, too.
This isn't just about an iPhone. It's about making a national statement:
America is back in business
.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Ya Libnan
4 hours ago
- Ya Libnan
Momentum builds for Israel-Syria peace
File: President Donald Trump meets with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in this handout released on May 14, 2025. Saudi Press Agency/Handout via REUTERS For the first time, Syrians are openly calling for peace with Israel . In an interview with Fox News Digital, journalist Furat Alali from Damascus said, 'We want a future without wars. We want to live. People are not afraid to speak up anymore.' Her statement reflects a significant shift in the country's political landscape, as many Syrians begin to openly discuss the prospect of peace with Israel. This change comes at a time when Syria and Israel are engaged in direct talks as Reuters revealed on Tuesday, marking a dramatic departure from the decades-long hostility between the two nations. Reuters reported , Israel and Syria have recently held direct meetings focused on security issues along their shared border. These talks represent a major step in the relationship between the two countries, which have been adversaries for decades. Sources familiar with the discussions have indicated that the U.S. has played a pivotal role in facilitating these talks, encouraging Syria's new leadership to engage with Israel. The discussions come after a shift in U.S. policy, following President Donald Trump's meeting with Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa earlier this month. The meeting signaled a break from decades of U.S. hostility toward Syria's Assad regime and opened the door to potential normalization between Syria and Israel. While the talks are still in the early stages, Trump's engagement has raised the possibility of Syria's leadership eventually normalizing ties with Israel, although this process will likely take time. Furat Alali explained: 'We don't want to be part of the Axis of Resistance anymore. The Palestinian cause has been used to oppress us. We feel sympathy for the Palestinians, but now we need to focus on Syria and our future.' Lina Ali, a 24-year-old pharmacist from Latakia, told Fox News Digital, 'We feel for the people of Gaza. We condemn the mass killings, but we are in a different situation. We are thinking about our own interests now. The idea of exploiting the Palestinian cause to oppress the Syrian people has been rejected. We are tired of this.' Another young woman interviewed by Jusoor News, a Pan-Arab media outlet, shared similar thoughts: 'We are for anything that serves our country's interest. We've lived through difficult times. The country's economy is very weak. It's time for people to live.' FOX NEWS
LBCI
17 hours ago
- LBCI
Morgan Ortagus, key figure on Lebanon's file, may step down as US deputy envoy to the Mideast — what we know
Report by Toni Mrad, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian In January 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump appointed Morgan Ortagus as Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East. Despite the appointment, Trump's announcement carried a tone of implicit skepticism and a lack of enthusiasm, reflecting personal reservations about the decision—even as Ortagus enjoyed "strong Republican support." In addition to her regional responsibilities, Ortagus was tasked with overseeing the Lebanon file and made two official visits to Beirut. During her first visit in February 2025, Ortagus met with Lebanese officials and said at a news conference that the United States had drawn a "red line" against Hezbollah's participation in the Lebanese government. She claimed that Hezbollah had been militarily defeated and should play no role in any future cabinet. In her second round of talks in April, Ortagus reiterated the urgent need to disarm Hezbollah and all other armed groups in Lebanon. A third visit to Lebanon had been expected in the coming days, but media reports now indicate that Ortagus will soon step down as part of broader changes within Trump's foreign policy team. She is reportedly being reassigned to another post within the administration. Although she had expressed interest in becoming the special envoy to Syria, the role was instead given to Thomas Barrack. The White House has not confirmed the change. Israel's Channel 14 reported that Ortagus' departure is "not good news" for Israel, citing her strong support for efforts to disarm Hezbollah.
Al Manar
19 hours ago
- Al Manar
Egypt, Qatar Reaffirm Intensive Efforts to Reach Ceasefire in Gaza
Egypt and Qatar issued a joint statement Sunday reaffirming their commitment to advancing ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, based on a proposal put forward by US envoy Steve Witkoff. 'The Arab Republic of Egypt and the State of Qatar continue their intensive efforts to bridge gaps and overcome sticking points to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, based on the US proposal,' the statement read. Both countries, in coordination with the United States, expressed their intention to intensify efforts to resolve obstacles facing the talks. They also called on all parties to act responsibly and support the mediators' efforts to end the crisis and restore stability to the region. The statement expressed hope for a swift agreement on a 60-day temporary truce, leading to a permanent ceasefire. Such a step would allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, ease the suffering of Palestinians, and pave the way for full reconstruction in line with the emergency Arab summit plan approved in Cairo on March 4, 2025 – per the statement. Nearly 20 months into the war, negotiations for a ceasefire and a deal to free the captives have failed to produce a breakthrough. Since the last brief truce collapsed in March, 'Israel' has intensified its aggression on Gaza. Hamas said on Saturday it had responded positively to the latest US-backed truce proposal, but US envoy Steve Witkoff criticised the response as 'totally unacceptable', an assessment echoed by 'Israel'. Senior Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mardawi said Sunday that the 'amendments we requested are identical… to what had been previously agreed upon with the American mediator'. Witkoff had urged the group to 'accept the framework proposal we put forward'. At least 49 Palestinians were killed and over 305 others wounded Sunday morning in a new massacre committed by Israeli occupation forces near an aid distribution center west of Rafah in southern Gaza.
