Apple CEO Tim Cook is under fire again from the US government, with White House trade advisor Peter Navarro accusing him of dragging his feet on moving iPhone production out of China.

In an interview on CNBC, Navarro labelled Apple’s slow exit from Chinese manufacturing “the longest-running soap opera in Silicon Valley”.

Navarro said: “Going back to the first Trump term, Tim Cook has continually asked for more time to move factories out of China.

“With all the new tech, AI, and advanced manufacturing, it’s inconceivable to me that Tim Cook could not produce his iPhones elsewhere around the world and in this country.”

Trump has renewed his calls for Apple to produce all iPhones sold in the US domestically, warning in May that Apple faces tariffs of at least 25% on overseas-made phones.

Apple has long relied on China’s supply chain and vast skilled workforce. While the company has ramped up production in India, assembling over US$22 billion (A$33 billion) worth of iPhones there last year, the majority of iPhones are still made in China.

Trump, however, has dismissed the India shift, reportedly telling Cook, “I don’t want you in India. We want you manufacturing here.”

Analysts argue that a full-scale return to US manufacturing is economically unrealistic.

A domestically made iPhone could cost up to AU$5,200 (US$3,500), given labour and infrastructure differences.

Despite this, Apple is still attempting to commit to the US market long term.

In February, the company announced a US$500 billion (A$750 billion) investment plan in America, including some AI server production and limited Mac Pro assembly in Texas.

Apple has not publicly responded to Navarro’s latest remarks.