Apple CEO Tim Cook’s $100 billion commitment to U.S. manufacturing came with more than just a major investment pledge — it also came with a personal gift for President Donald Trump: a “Made in USA” glass plaque mounted on a 24-karat gold stand.
Cook, often referred to as the “Trump Whisperer” for his skill in striking deals and maintaining a cordial relationship with the president, presented the one-of-a-kind plaque during a meeting in the Oval Office on Wednesday. He noted that the gift box was made in California, the engraved glass was crafted by a former Marine Corps corporal employed at Apple, and the gold base came from Utah. “Thank you very much, it’s fantastic,” Trump replied. As of Thursday, gold was trading at $3,383 per ounce.
The presentation came alongside Apple’s announcement of a $100 billion investment in its “American Manufacturing Program,” which will strengthen its 18-year partnership with Corning, the New York-based producer of glass for iPhone and Apple Watch screens. This brings Apple’s total planned U.S. manufacturing investment to $600 billion over the next four years, building on the $500 billion commitment announced in February.
The timing aligns with Trump’s plan to impose a 100% tariff on semiconductor chips, a move expected to raise prices on electronics, cars, appliances, and other chip-reliant technology. Apple’s expanded U.S. production would exempt it from the tariff. “If you’re building in the United States of America, there’s no charge,” Trump said during the meeting.
Trump has repeatedly pressured U.S. tech companies to bring manufacturing home, despite warnings from analysts that domestic production may be costlier and more challenging. Even Corning, celebrated as a U.S. manufacturing leader, operates a Chinese subsidiary serving that regional market. In May, Trump threatened a 25% tariff on Apple if it didn’t sever ties with overseas manufacturers in India and elsewhere. Last month, Cook projected a $1.1 billion hit from tariffs in the coming quarter, citing ongoing reliance on facilities in China and India.
Apple did not respond to a request for comment.
Cook’s relationship with Trump has been long-standing, marked by compromises over tax policies and domestic manufacturing goals. Joseph Badaracco, John Shad Professor of Business Ethics at Harvard Business School, said the plaque fits Cook’s approach of keeping relations smooth while distinguishing Apple from competitors.
“The president has now gotten a long series of these giant commitments to manufacturing in the U.S. from a lot of other countries and a lot of companies,” Badaracco said. “So this is the way of making the Apple commitment stand out a little more.”
While not necessarily “ethically noble,” Badaracco added, the gift underscores Apple’s manufacturing pledge. Other executives may see it as an example for navigating unpredictable policy decisions.
“If you’re running a company dealing with the Trump administration, you’ve got sort of a collapse of the old checks and balances,” he said. “Congress has the courts moving slowly, and in the interim, you’ve got a president who’s acting, by many accounts, arbitrarily. So you’ve got to do what you can in circumstances like that.”
