Apple CEO Tim Cook Explains His Relationship With Trump

[turbineseaplane]

Odd, isn't it. Somehow that's winning in their minds.

It's called having some moral fiber.

If one doesn't showcase that when it's most difficult (when it actually matters), then they don't have it.

Tim has shown us what he cares about and what he stands for.

It's pretty disappointing to me, as he's not who I'd once thought he was.

 

[cocacolakid]

The CEO who approved Liquid Glass and personally donated $1 million to a dictator. It’s time for Cook to go.

 

[NufSaid]

It is always crazy to think that he wouldn't want to talk to whoever is president agree or disagree.

I despise some of Cooks views yet I own half the Apple store.

I don't have Cook Derangement Syndrome.

 

[Zenman12]

It's how you get what you want out of Trump - you bribe him with shiny things.

Doesn't always work. Ass-kissing cannot solve all problems. Like Iran shows (they’re clearly at fault but Trump started the mess). 😂

 

[repoman016]

Right?? Should be incredibly obvious. You don’t have to agree with or like the person, you just get them on your side for the four years you have to deal with them.

This is the norm in every corporate setting. Not everyone remembers that and everyone thinks people can just do whatever they want, all the time. It's not how corporate works

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

You can argue all you want about Tim Cook and his relationship with the current administration, but the reality is most people commenting have never had to operate in the shoes of someone running a multi trillion dollar company. Cook has literally said he focuses on policy, not politics, and that his job is to engage with whoever is in power to advocate for Apple’s interests. That’s not taking sides that’s doing his job. When you’re dealing with tariffs, regulation, manufacturing, and global supply chains, you don’t get the luxury of ideological purity. You engage, you build relationships, and you try to influence outcomes. That’s leadership at that level.

Unfortunately, politics has become so polarized that people expect CEOs to pick a team and stick to it publicly. But the real world doesn’t work like that especially when your responsibility is to shareholders, employees, and an entire ecosystem.

You don’t have to agree with how he does it, but acting like it’s simple or black and white just shows a lack of perspective.

 

[JMalone]

Tim is spot on with this. Political entrenchment and polarisation basically leads to nothing ever getting done, and fuelling those things is not why Apple exists.

Business leaders know that the media and political parties call each other nazis or commies and divide the public as much as they can for profit. Trump Derangement Syndrome followed Obama Derangement Syndrome followed Bush Derangement Syndrome followed Clinton Derangement Syndrome.

Polarization and culture wars are for the media and political parties.

Tech corporations (excluding social media companies) just want to sell services and products to customers from all backgrounds. Culture wars are not their game.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Cook has literally said he focuses on policy, not politics, and that his job is to engage with whoever is in power to advocate for Apple’s interests. That’s not taking sides that’s doing his job. When you’re dealing with tariffs, regulation, manufacturing, and global supply chains, you don’t get the luxury of ideological purity. You engage, you build relationships, and you try to influence outcomes. That’s leadership at that level.

I think you should expand this thought experiment to its logical ends.

Is there any line the current regime could cross where you wouldn't defend Tim & Apple supporting them?

Can we get to any situations in society where "just doing what's right for more money" isn't the only answer?

 

[WWP99]

Tim Apple? Never met him.

 

[Tim Jobs the 2nd]

It's called having some moral fiber.

If one doesn't showcase that when it's most difficult (when it actually matters), then they don't have it.

Tim has shown us what he cares about and what he stands for.

It's pretty disappointing to me, as he's not who I'd once thought he was.

Ternus or whoever is next will do the same thing, like it or not.

 

[WinstonSmyth]

I just wish Tim would make his damn iPhones in USA.

 

[Zenman12]

It's called having some moral fiber.

If one doesn't showcase that when it's most difficult (when it actually matters), then they don't have it.

Tim has shown us what he cares about and what he stands for.

It's pretty disappointing to me, as he's not who I'd once thought he was.

Here’s a thought experiment. You have thousands of workers who depend upon you to support their families.

The king is an *******.

Do you piss off the king, to be a moral person, and as consequence, have to let those workers let go due to financial trouble the king brings in retaliation?

Not a gotcha. Genuine question.

 

[bookcase]

Engaging in conversation is something I understand. That is distinctly different than the donations, golden award, private movie screening, etc. The man is a tool to Trump.

 

[mrr]

Excellent answer. Tim Cook is in a difficult spot with many of these world leaders. He’s doing a quiet reasonable job navigating these complexities, no matter how distasteful they might be.

 

[aaronhead14]

In other words, Tim Cook is a level-headed person, rather than someone who makes bad business decisions. Good man!

 

[Crow_Servo]

If all the tech companies banded together against Trump, they would’ve had the upper hand, but they went the much easier route and let the school bully win. I guess we’re supposed to be cool with all of the tech CEOs attending his inauguration to support him. I think they align with his views more than they want us to think.

 

[Kar98]

When you are the CEO of an American company and the president of the United States invites you to something, you go.

Jawohl mein Führer!

“Talking” is one thing, donating a million dollars, presenting a gold bauble and attending private movie screenings is another. Utterly disgusting.

 

[Rogifan]

So what in Tim Cook’s mind would be considered ‘political’?

 

[roklanhavok]

He should just say, "No one is illegal on stolen land!" 🤣🤣🤣 (That's a joke, he should definitely not say that.)

 

[xmarcuswildx]

So….. this falls on deaf ears, because he has money and can engage in this way.

Can’t wait for this man to go. He’s lost the plot of Apple.

 

[okkibs]

🤢

 

[iDrummer3]

History is not going to reflect well on these tech leaders kissing the ring, there was no reason Cook had to personally donate $1 million to his campaign. The rest of the world is tired of America and Trumps sycophants.

You sure about that? If I remember correctly more than half of the country voted for him. I don’t personally like his rhetoric sometimes, and Im not fond of the term MAGA, but as far as policies go, I 100% agree. I understand given the forum and site we are on that a majority will not agree with me. However, go back and look at the map of red vs blue in the election and it’s easy to see that your comment had no basis of fact.

 

[lovehateapple]

It's the shareholders!

You have a problem with this? Isn't that the way it's supposed to be?

 

[mdorais]

JFC the cheaper iphones over human rights takes here are something else....

 

[lovehateapple]

History is not going to reflect well on these tech leaders kissing the ring, there was no reason Cook had to personally donate $1 million to his campaign. The rest of the world is tired of America and Trumps sycophants.

He would have donated to the president's inauguration fund no matter who it was or what party he / she was from. I've said all along he would have donated $2MM if Harris had won. (He didn't donate to Trump's campaign, btw.)