'Those days are over': Donald Trump slams tech firms hiring in India as US unveils AI action plan

At a high-profile AI summit in Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump criticised American tech companies for hiring workers in India and building factories in China, declaring, “Under President Trump, those days are over.”

His remarks came as the Trump administration rolled out an AI action plan aimed at reasserting US dominance in the global AI race.

Speaking before a room of top tech executives and investors, Trump lashed out at what he called the "radical globalism" of Silicon Valley, accusing major US tech firms of exploiting American freedoms while outsourcing jobs abroad.

“Many of our largest tech companies have reaped the blessings of American freedom while building their factories in China, hiring workers in India, and slashing profits in Ireland,” he said.

“We need US technology companies to be all-in for America,” he added.

This is not the first time Trump has targeted India over tech outsourcing. Earlier in May, he warned Apple that it would face steep tariffs if it continued building iPhones outside the US.

“I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone’s that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else. If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S. Thank your for your attention to this matter,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

Trump is renewing his push to bring tech jobs back to the U.S., just as global AI development gains speed. Trump's remarks come as the Trump administration unveiled an AI Action Plan.

Also read: 'Build, Baby, Build': Inside America’s AI action plan for global dominance

The plan is built around three core pillars: accelerating innovation, building AI infrastructure, and ensuring American leadership in international AI diplomacy and security. It likens the current AI race to the space race and promises to achieve global technological dominance.

Calling the AI race "one of the most important technological revolutions in the history of the world," Trump said America would not allow foreign nations to define the terms of this new era. “Our children will not live on a planet controlled by the algorithms of adversaries advancing values and interests contrary to our own,” he said.

The action plan also calls for a single federal standard for AI regulation. "We have to have a single federal standard, not 50 different states regulating this industry of the future. And some people would say, gee, that's an unpopular thing to say. But I want you to be successful. And you can't have one state holding you up. You can't have three or four states holding you up. You can't have a state with standards that are so high that it's going to hold you up. You have to have a federal rule and regulation."