Skip to main content

Pelosi: The iPhone was invented by ‘federal research,’ not Apple

Pelosi Claims Federal Research “Invented” The iPhone
House Minority Speaker Nancy Pelosi doesn’t believe the iPhone came into existence because of Apple or Steve Jobs.

At a Democratic Platform Drafting Committee hearing on Thursday, Pelosi pulled out what seemed to be an iPhone 6S Plus and said the smartphone was built through federal research, not by Apple’s or Steve Jobs’ ingenuity.

Recommended Videos

“Anybody here have a smartphone? In this smartphone, almost everything came from federal investments and research,” Pelosi said. “GPS, created by the military, flatscreens, [LCD], digital camera, wireless data compression, research into metal alloys for strength and lightweight, voice recognition — the list goes on and on … They say Steve Jobs did a good idea designing it and putting it together. Federal research invented it.”

Please enable Javascript to view this content

You could argue that just because someone discovered how to make thread, it doesn’t mean they have woven the rug. But the point the Democratic leader is making is one that has been made for decades — one that has been notably mentioned by the likes of President Barack Obama, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and even Franklin D. Roosevelt, according to the Washington Post.

“The individual does not create the product of his industry with his own hands; he utilizes the many processes and forces of mass production to meet the demands of a national and international market,” Roosevelt said in a 1935 message to Congress.

And as our current Commander in Chief previously stated: “The internet didn’t get invented on its own. Government research created the internet so that all the companies could make money off the internet.”

Essentially, the idea is that businesses and individuals find success through other people, things, and, as Pelosi says, “federal research.” It’s up to these businesses to give back to the government, and Pelosi believes that federal research contracts deserve just as much of limelight.

But Pelosi has since pedaled down the rhetoric — to not discredit what Apple or Steve Jobs have done.

“The late Steve Jobs and the team at Apple that made the iPhone would be the first to tell you that they didn’t invent many of its core technologies we now take for granted,” Drew Hammill, spokesperson for Pelosi tells Digital Trends. “Leader Pelosi counted Steve Jobs as friend and meant no disrespect to his legacy, but the point she was making is a valid one. Leader Pelosi believes that Steve Jobs and his colleagues at Apple, deserve enormous credit for taking federally-backed innovations off the shelf, refining them, commercializing them and turning them into a beautiful device that changed the world.”

Julian Chokkattu
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Julian is the mobile and wearables editor at Digital Trends, covering smartphones, fitness trackers, smartwatches, and more…
An OLED iPad mini is coming in 2026, says Apple insider
Front view of Apple iPad mini with A17 Pro.

Although the iPad mini has continued to receive updates and support, it's fair to say it hasn't gotten the same level of love as the iPad Pro. However, that could be set to change, as the next iPad mini is expected to launch in 2026 with a new OLED display.

That's not all, though. Both the iPad Air 11-inch and 13-inch models could also receive the same upgrade in 2027 (adding weight to a previous leak). Then there's the rumored foldable iPad with an 18.8-inch display, according to a report from analysts at Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC).

Read more
Apple hopes foldable and thinner iPhones will boost sales
A render of the iPhone Air.

Apple's iPhone sales have declined in recent years, primarily because the company has focused more on software updates than hardware improvements. However, Apple hopes this trend will change next year, as it plans to introduce new handsets with significant design upgrades.

There has been considerable discussion recently about the upcoming "iPhone 17 Air," which is anticipated to be the thinnest iPhone ever made. It is expected to be released in September alongside the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup.

Read more
I tried Apple Fitness Plus as a beginner and loved what I found
Apple Fitness Plus on an Apple TV, with an iPhone 16 Pro Max.

When my Apple Watch Series 10 arrived, it came with a three-month trial for Apple Fitness Plus. It was just the right time, as I’d been out of the exercising loop for a few months and wanted to get back into it at my own pace.

But I was a bit worried about Apple Fitness Plus. Would it be suitable for me as a beginner? What I discovered was something way more motivational and fun than I expected.
Fear of the unknown

Read more