Trump will tour Apple’s Mac Pro factory in Texas this week

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President Trump will tour Apple's Mac Pro factory in Texas this week
Mac Pro is being made in the US of A.
Photo: Apple

The White House has confirmed that President Donald Trump will visit Apple’s Mac Pro factory in Austin, Texas, this Wednesday.

While the Mac Pro is only a bit player in Apple’s overall revenue and profit strategy, its “made in Texas” status reflects Apple’s desire to invest in the United States. Since Trump took office, Apple has expanded its “job footprint” to 2.4 million people in the United States.

Mac Pro factory in Texas

Apple is building the new Mac Pro in the same facility it has used for Mac Pro production since 2013. Previous rumors indicated assembly would move back to China after Apple lined up a deal with Quanta. However, Apple says it will keep Mac Pro manufacturing stateside as part of the company’s commitment to U.S. economic growth.

Recently, Apple asked the Trump administration to waive tariffs on various products imported from China. Apple already received exemptions from import duties on components used to make the Mac Pro.

To secure exemptions on other imports, Apple hired a pro-Trump lobbyist to work on its behalf. Apple CEO Tim Cook supposedly launched a “charm offensive” on Trump to try and score a favorable deal.

Tim Cook and Donald Trump

Cook and Trump have enjoyed a complex relationship since the president took office. Trump publicly praised Cook, hailing him as a “great executive.” “He calls me, and others don’t,” Trump said, comparing Cook to other business leaders. However, they have also clashed at times. At one point in his presidential campaign, Trump called for a boycott of Apple.

Personally, Cook is a staunch Democrat. At one point, he was even considered as a possible running mate for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. However, as the CEO of a publicly traded company, it’s his job to get along with people to secure the best possible return for Apple.

Apple recently announced that its Mac Pro will ship sometime in December.

Source: CNBC

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