President Trump has pledged to retaliate against the European Union over what he claims are unfair fines targeting Apple and other American tech giants. Here are the details.

As spotted by CNBC, President Trump has published a lengthy post on Truth Social, threatening to impose a “substantial” tariff on the European Union in response to fines levied against Apple and other US tech giants.

In his post, Trump mentions the EU’s recent €890 million fine against Google for allegedly favoring its own services in violation of the Digital Markets Act. He also lists previous fines against Apple, Meta, and Amazon, accusing the EU of punishing American companies “for no reason at all”.

He goes on to threaten that the EU “will pay a very big price” for what he claims is an “illegal and highly unethical conduct,” and goes on to pledge that these “penalties will be entirely reversed.”

Here’s his post in full:

The European Union is at it again and, as usual, taking direct aim at GREAT American Companies! After having fined Apple, for no reason at all, 15 Billion Dollars, Meta, 3 Billion Dollars, Amazon 2.5 Billion Dollars, and many others, we have just been informed that Google, a truly advanced and amazing group, has been fined yet another 1 Billion Dollars, without explanation. This brings the Google total to over 18 Billion Dollars! This illegal and highly discriminatory practice started at these high levels during the first year of the Sleepy Joe Biden Administration, but it’s not going to continue during the Trump Administration. The United States of America is not a “PIGGYBANK” for Europe, nor will we allow it to be! Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that we will immediately initiate a 301 Investigation into the practice of “ROBBING” American Companies and, in turn, the American Taxpayer. The European Union will pay a very big price for this illegal and highly unethical conduct, which I have consistently warned them about. The penalties will be entirely reversed and, we anticipate, a substantial TARIFF to be placed on them at the earliest possible moment. Stay tuned! President DONALD J. TRUMP

This is not the first time Trump has threatened tariffs in response to foreign penalties against Apple and other US tech companies. His administration previously described the EU’s 2025 fines against Apple and Meta as “economic extortion,” while warning that countries penalizing American businesses could face trade retaliation.

Specifically when it comes to Apple, Trump’s reference to a $15 billion fine appears to concern the EU’s long-running tax case against the company. In 2024, Europe’s highest court ordered Ireland to recover €13 billion in unpaid taxes from Apple, rather than imposing a fine payable to the EU. Apple was separately fined €570 million under the Digital Markets Act in April 2025.

What’s your take on President Trump’s threat? Let us know in the comments.

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