Trump’s Influence: The Apple-Intel Partnership

In August 2025, Tim Cook met with President Donald Trump in Washington to urge the administration to scrap its proposed 100% tariff on semiconductor imports. This tariff would have significantly increased costs across Apple’s range of devices if implemented.

Many believed that Apple secured the tariff exemption by committing to invest billions of dollars in US facilities. The company had already pledged $500 billion to US manufacturing earlier that year, and during the August meeting, they added an additional $100 billion.

A recent report suggests that there may have been more to the discussions. President Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick reportedly pressured Cook to strike a deal with US chipmaker Intel to utilize their fabrication plants for Apple’s chips.

While Intel had been trying to attract Apple’s business since 2021, nothing concrete had materialized. However, in May 2026, a deal was reached for Intel to manufacture Apple silicon for future Macs, iPhones, and iPads.

The new agreement involved Intel producing some low-end M-Series chips for Macs and A-series chips for iPhones. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo even hinted that new chips were already in production, although neither Apple nor Intel confirmed this.

Despite the Trump administration’s interest in Intel, the connection between the tariff negotiations and Apple’s deal with Intel was not initially clear. However, a recent report by The Wall Street Journal revealed that Apple faced pressure from the White House to utilize Intel’s facilities while negotiating relief from semiconductor tariffs.

In June 2026, Trump’s announcement on his Truth Social platform sent Intel shares soaring by confirming that Apple would start using Intel-manufactured chips in some devices. “We need to design and build our Chips right here in America,” he emphasized.

According to WSJ, Apple plans to purchase chips for Mac laptops and iPhones from Intel. The specifics of the chips to be fabricated by Intel and the expected volume remain unspecified.

It is anticipated that Intel’s chip production will not fully replace Apple’s reliance on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) for most of its chip needs.

While Apple previously used Intel processors in its Macs, they have since transitioned to M-Series chips fabricated by TSMC. The deal with Intel signifies a manufacturing partnership rather than a return to Intel-designed chips.

The Apple-Intel agreement is viewed as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to bolster Intel’s position in the chip industry. The US government’s investment in Intel, which includes a 10% equity stake, underscores their commitment to the company’s success.

Intel has faced challenges, including significant losses in its foundry business, leading to doubts about its chip production capabilities. The Trump administration’s push for similar deals with tech firms like Nvidia and SpaceX indicates a strategic focus on strengthening the US chip industry.