Recently in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump stood beside Apple CEO Tim Cook to tout the company’s four-year plan to bring more of its supply chain back to America. The White House framed it as a patriotic jobs surge — 20,000 direct hires and thousands more through suppliers. But behind the smiles, the move reeks of government pressure. For decades, Apple built overseas because American red tape, taxes, and labor costs make it harder to compete. Instead of tearing down those barriers, Washington is now cornering companies with tariff threats and political arm-twisting. Cook’s announcement came after months of saber-rattling from Trump on taxing imports — a clear signal: move your factories here, or pay the price. This could backfire. Domestic production costs more. That means higher prices for iPhones, MacBooks, and the devices millions rely on every day. Middle-class Americans will foot the bill for a photo-op that politicians will claim as “job creation.” Yes, building in America sounds good. But real economic freedom comes from unleashing the market — not from forcing even the most successful companies into politically-driven manufacturing experiments. If the government keeps meddling, Apple’s “Made in America” moment might turn into a Made-for-Washington blunder.