Days of US tech companies building factories in China, hiring workers in India over: Trump

“For too long, much of America’s tech industry pursued a radical globalism that left millions of Americans feeling distrustful and betrayed,” Trump said. “Many of our largest tech companies have reaped the blessings of American freedom while building their factories in China, hiring workers in India and slashing profits in Ireland. All the while dismissing and even censoring their fellow citizens right here at home. Under President Trump, those days are over.”

Trump emphasized the need for what he called “a new spirit of patriotism and national loyalty in Silicon Valley and long beyond Silicon Valley,” urging American technology companies to “be all in for America.”

“We want you to put America first. You have to do that. That’s all we ask,” he said.

President Donald Trump arrives to speak at an AI summit in Washington. (Photo: AP)

The President signed three executive orders as part of his administration’s plan to strengthen the United States’ position in the global AI race. Among them is a White House action plan for AI development and an order aimed at promoting the export of full-stack American AI technology packages as part of a coordinated national effort to support the domestic AI industry.

However, this was not the first time that the US President has spoken against American tech companies investing outside the country. In May, Trump had said that Apple would have to pay 25 per cent tariff if it sold in the US iPhones that are built in India or anyplace else.

“I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else. If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S. Thank you for your attention to this matter,” Trump had said in a social media post.

(With inputs from PTI)