Trump logically assumed that Cook and Apple had bowed to his will and stopped making Apple gear in China and moved its operations to the US. After all it is what happened in his head, so it must be true.

The president played up a six year old factory as evidence of his three year old presidency's success in bringing manufacturing jobs back to the United States. It must be new, otherwise why was he there.

He told the bemused staff at the plant that opening Apple's “new plant” was a “very special day" and called Cook a "very special person" because of his ability to create jobs.

Observers said Cook stood next to him, stone-faced. The plant has been making Apple computers since 2013.

Cook thanked the president and his staff. "I'm grateful for their support in pulling today off and getting us to this far. It would not be possible without them", he said. He did not correct the record.

It is probably better not to anger Trump with reality.