One of Donald Trump's biggest goals as president was to increase domestic manufacturing and reshore supply chains, aiming for 100% US-made technology. Last December, he launched his 'Genesis Mission,' an ambitious plan to leverage US dominance in artificial intelligence (AI) to maintain or seize an edge in advanced robotics, biotechnology, semiconductors, and nuclear technologies. This, he believed, would work best with self-sustaining supply chains, even if it meant relying less on neighboring countries or longtime allies.

However, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) now warns that Trump's reshoring goals are not grounded in reality. In new research, the CTA estimates that reaching full US production of 10 categories of products commonly found in US homes by 2031 would require between $185 and $230 billion in capital expenditure, 555,000 to 668,000 additional full-time employees, and 19.1-19.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. The costs are eye-popping, but the labour demand might be the bigger problem, requiring more than double the existing US computer and electronics manufacturing workforce.

The energy demand required to reshore all supply chains at once would clash with the huge energy needs of AI data centers over the same time period. The CTA's findings suggest that Trump's vision is not just unrealistic but also economically and logistically unsustainable. It's a reminder that even the most powerful leaders can be outmatched by the complexities of the global tech ecosystem.