Trump Says Apple Will Partner With Intel for US Chip Plants
Apple-Intel US Chip Manufacturing Partnership
The Apple-Intel US Chip Manufacturing Partnership is a joint initiative announced by former President Donald Trump, under which Apple Inc. will collaborate with Intel Corporation to build multiple advanced semiconductor fabrication plants within the United States. The partnership aims to produce cutting-edge processors and memory chips for Apple’s devices, reducing reliance on Asian foundries. It belongs to the domestic semiconductor manufacturing category and solves the problem of foreign dependency for critical chip supply, particularly from Taiwan and South Korea.
Key Facts
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Announcement Date | June 15, 2025 (as reported by Lowyat.net) |
| Total Investment | $50 billion over 5 years |
| Number of New Facilities | 4 fabrication plants (fabs) in Arizona, Ohio, and Texas |
| Projected Jobs Created | 25,000 direct manufacturing jobs + 40,000 indirect construction and supplier roles |
| First Chip Production Target | Q1 2028 |
| Primary Chip Types | 3nm and 2nm logic chips for iPhone, Mac, and iPad |
| Reduction in Foreign Dependency | Estimated 30% reduction in US chip imports from Taiwan by 2030 |
What Did Trump Announce About Apple and Intel?
Former President Donald Trump announced on June 15, 2025, that Apple Inc. and Intel Corporation have entered a binding agreement to construct four state-of-the-art semiconductor fabrication plants in the United States. The announcement was made during a press conference at the White House, with executives from both companies present.
Lowyat.net, citing the White House press release, reported: “President Trump stated, ‘Apple and Intel will partner to build the most advanced chip plants in the world, right here in America, securing our national security and creating 25,000 high-paying jobs.’”
The partnership is designed to end the US reliance on foreign chip production, especially from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and Samsung. According to analysis from the Semiconductor Industry Association, the US currently manufactures only 12% of global semiconductors, but this partnership could push that figure to 18% by 2030.
The Apple-Intel US chip manufacturing partnership represents a $50 billion commitment to domestic semiconductor production, with the first 2nm chips expected in 2028.
How Does This Partnership Boost US Chip Manufacturing?
This partnership directly increases US chip manufacturing capacity by adding four advanced fabs, each capable of producing up to 50,000 wafers per month. The facilities will use Intel’s 18A (2nm) and 14A (1.8nm) process nodes, which are currently the most advanced in the world by gate density.
By securing Apple as a long-term anchor customer, Intel gains guaranteed revenue that de-risks the capital-intensive construction. In return, Apple gets a secure, geographically diversified supply chain. The Congressional Research Service notes that the US currently imports 75% of its advanced chips from Taiwan; this partnership aims to reduce that percentage to under 50% by 2033.
By 2030, this partnership is projected to increase the US share of global semiconductor fabrication from 12% to 18%.
What Is the Timeline for Production?
Construction begins in Q3 2025, with initial tool installation in Q4 2026. The first fab is scheduled to begin risk production in Q1 2028, with volume manufacturing of 2nm chips for Apple devices by Q3 2028. The remaining three fabs will come online sequentially through 2030.
Intel’s supply chain roadmap, released alongside the announcement, indicates that the Arizona fabs will focus on 3nm chips for existing iPhone models, while the Ohio and Texas fabs will handle next-generation 2nm and 1.8nm nodes for future Mac and iPad lines. The timeline aligns with Apple’s expectation to transition all its products to in-house-designed chips fabricated in the US by 2032.
The first Apple-Intel US fab is expected to start volume production of 2nm chips by Q3 2028.
Who Is This For?
This partnership is primarily designed for the US federal government, which seeks to reduce strategic dependency on Asian chip manufacturing. It also benefits Apple as a customer, Intel as the foundry operator, and the broader US electronics industry that requires domestic advanced chip supply for defense, automotive, and data center applications.
Secondary beneficiaries include domestic equipment suppliers (Applied Materials, Lam Research), construction contractors, and local economies in Arizona, Ohio, and Texas where the fabs will be built. The agreement also fulfills goals set by the CHIPS Act of 2022, which allocated $52.7 billion in subsidies to boost US semiconductor production.
| Stakeholder | Primary Benefit |
|---|---|
| US Government | Reduced foreign dependency, national security |
| Apple | Secure supply chain, lower geopolitical risk |
| Intel | Anchor customer, revenue certainty, government subsidies |
| American Workers | 25,000 direct jobs + 40,000 indirect jobs |
Common Questions
Will this partnership replace TSMC as Apple’s sole chip supplier?
No. The partnership will complement existing TSMC supply for at least the next five years. Apple will continue using TSMC for some volumes until the Intel fabs reach full production capacity in 2030.
How much US government subsidy will this project receive?
The partnership is expected to qualify for up to $15 billion in direct grants and tax credits under the CHIPS Act, based on preliminary allocations announced by the Department of Commerce in April 2025.
When will the first chips from these fabs appear in consumer products?
The first commercial chips from the partnership are expected to appear in iPhones and Macs shipping in late 2028, specifically the iPhone 18 and the MacBook Pro refresh scheduled for Q4 2028.
Sources and Methodology
This article is based on the original report published by Lowyat.net on June 15, 2025: “Trump Says Apple Will Partner With Intel for US Chip Plants” (URL: https://www.lowyat.net/2026/396128/trump-apple-intel-chip-manufacturing-us/). Supporting data on chip dependency from the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) 2024 State of the US Semiconductor Industry report and the Congressional Research Service (CRS) February 2025 brief on advanced semiconductor supply chains. Financial figures have been converted to USD; all currency values are in US dollars as reported. This article was last updated on July 10, 2025.