**President Trump Wields Tariff Threats to Target American Companies**

In recent weeks, President Donald Trump has intensified his use of tariffs as a tool to pressure high-profile American companies, singling out Apple and Mattel for their business decisions and statements made by their CEOs. Trump’s motivations appear to be driven by a desire to compel these companies to align with his vision of boosting domestic production and investment.

Trump’s recent clash with Apple began earlier this year with mutual praise for CEO Tim Cook, following Apple’s announcement of $500 billion in US investments. However, tensions escalated when Cook revealed plans to shift iPhone production from China to India for the US market. Trump, who has insisted that his tariffs would prompt companies to relocate production to the United States, reacted with a threat on Truth Social, stating, "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." He suggested a 25% tariff on all imported smartphones if Apple did not comply.

Despite clarifying that these tariffs would apply to all imported smartphones, including those from competitors like Samsung, legal and practical obstacles remain. Trade attorney Lizbeth Levinson pointed out that a Section 232 investigation might be needed to justify these tariffs on the basis of national security, a process that could be lengthy and complicated.

Similarly, Trump’s threats have not spared Mattel. Earlier this month, he proposed a 100% tariff on all of Mattel’s toy imports after CEO Ynon Kreiz indicated that while tariffs might force price increases, shifting production to the US would be more costly. Trump’s response was blunt: “We'll put a 100% tariff on his toys, and he won't sell one toy in the United States, and that's their biggest market."

Experts like Clark Packard from the Cato Institute believe that these threats are less about imposing new tariffs and more about leveraging pressure to extract concessions from companies, such as commitments to future US investments or agreements to downplay the impact of tariffs on prices. The ultimate goal seems to be claiming a victory in the ongoing trade disputes, more so than enacting crippling tariffs that could spark backlash among American consumers.

While neither Apple nor Mattel has publicly responded to these threats, trade commentators suggest that Trump’s approach reflects a broader strategy of using tariffs as a bargaining chip. This tactic has created significant uncertainty but also indicates that the administration's primary aim is not necessarily to follow through with the punitive measures, but rather to secure strategic economic and political gains.