Trump Says Apple CEO Has Promised to Build Three Manufacturing Plants in U.S.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday said in an interview that Apple Inc. Chief Executive Tim Cook has committed to build three big manufacturing plants in the U.S., a surprising statement that would help fulfill his administration's economic goal of reviving American manufacturing.

Mr. Trump, in a 45-minute interview with The Wall Street Journal, said Mr. Cook promised him Apple would build "three big plants, beautiful plants." Mr. Trump didn't elaborate on where those plants would be located or when they would be built.

"I spoke to [Mr. Cook], he's promised me three big plants -- big, big, big," Mr. Trump said as part of a discussion about business-tax reform and business investment. "I said you know, Tim, unless you start building your plants in this country, I won't consider my administration an economic success. He called me, and he said they are going forward."

Apple declined to comment.

Mr. Trump's comments were some of the first he has made regarding Apple manufacturing since assuming the presidency and revive pressure on the world's largest company by market value to move manufacturing operations from Asia to the U.S.

Write to Tripp Mickle at Tripp.Mickle@wsj.com and Peter Nicholas at peter.nicholas@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 25, 2017 16:04 ET (20:04 GMT)