Apple CEO Tim Cook: 'I'm Not a Political Person'

[MacRumors]

In an interview with Good Morning America's Michael Strahan this week, Apple's CEO Tim Cook said he is "not a political person."

Strahan said Cook has been criticized over his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump. He noted that Cook attended Trump's second inauguration last year, gifted Trump a piece of glass with a 24-karat gold base, and went to a private screening of a Melania Trump documentary at the White House earlier this year. Cook reportedly also personally donated $1 million to Trump's second inauguration fund.

Cook responded with a diplomatic answer.

"I interact on policy, not politics," said Cook.

"I'm not a political person on either side," he added. "I'm not political. And so I'm kind of straight down the middle and I focus on policy. And so, I'm very pleased that the President and the administration is accessible to talk about policy."

However, not everyone thinks politics and policy can be separated. For example, Apple commentator John Gruber said Cook's response "makes sense only if you believe government policy decisions aren't political — which is to say it makes no sense."

Others have argued that Cook is fulfilling his fiduciary responsibility by ensuring that Apple is in good standing with the U.S. government.

The topic continues to provoke strong opinions.

As a whole, Apple's corporate values are generally considered to be progressive, particularly with respect to social and environmental matters.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: Apple CEO Tim Cook: 'I'm Not a Political Person'

 

[MacUserFella]

And that all changes once tariffs are involved and he begins glazing Trump

 

[infiniteentropy]

It’s just smart business to not get political, especially in deeply divided times.

 

[attohs]

He’s a pro at playing this game.

 

[ugahairydawgs]

And that all changes once tariffs are involved and he begins glazing Trump

It doesn't though. Cook and Apple don't want the tariffs. The President does. Engaging with him to try and influence policy isn't the same as getting into the politics of the thing, even Cook has to operate in that world.

There are a lot of strong feelings against the President and understandably so, but he is going to be President for almost 3 full years still. It would be business malpractice for Tim Cook to angrily protest every decision the President makes (especially so given his tendency to tack on targeted tariffs for vengeful reasons, even if he does end up walking them back or have a judge strike them down). As CEO of Apple Tim Cook has to continually engage the President and lobby for policy that he thinks best benefits Apple. It benefits him as CEO and the company as a whole greatly to avoid the politics of any situation at all costs. Any argument to the contrary is, frankly, clouded by your own politics.

 

[StudioMacs]

It’s just smart business to not get political, especially in deeply divided times.

“Cook reportedly also personally donated $1 million to Trump's second inauguration fund.”

 

[turbineseaplane]

"I'm not political"

A fresh round of morning gaslighting from Tim.

The one hopeful part is that he's starting to do the rounds on sit downs and interviews in a way that someone would when they are stepping down in the near to medium term.

 

[AppleFan91]

He's playing the game. That's all this is.

He can't say he's not political and then personally donate $1mil to the Trump inauguration fund.

Do I think he supports Trump on a personal level? I don't know, so maybe he's right there in that he doesn't get into politics. But he most definitely plays the game and does it well as CEO of a company. He's careful to not make waves against whoever is in office.

While I dislike who he is being careful with right now, I can understand his role as the CEO is to make business as profitable and as easy to accomplish as he can - which he does.

I don't hate the player, I hate the game.

While I'd personally love it if he told the current leadership to shove it - Apple's role is that of a company, not as that of an activist group.

 

[johnediii]

It’s just smart business to not get political, especially in deeply divided times.

when Michael Jordan was asked the same thing his response at the time was "Republicans buy shoes, too". Probably a good policy for any business. Let's not alienate 50% of our potential customer base by being too political.

 

[capamac]

Everyone is political. Even not being political is political and affects politics. Non-voters, for example, greatly affect politics. And every issue is political, such as LGBTQ issues.

 

[wanha]

"I interact on policy, not politics"

The choice of which policies to care about, and whose table to sit at, is inherently a political act. There's no policy without politics, unless you only care about your own self interest, in which case you'll sit at any table.

"I'm not political"

This is almost always a claim made by people who benefit substantially from the current arrangement

"I'm straight down the middle"

The middle of what, Tim? From your comments, we can only assume it's the middle between fascism and the status quo.

 

[citysnaps]

He can't say he's not political and then donate $1mil to the Trump inaguration fund.

Sure he can, if it results in Apple not being hit with huge tariffs that would need to be passed down to Apple customers.

It seems many here would be OK if they had to pay those large tariffs when purchasing Apple products.

 

[thegerman]

We believe u, Tim Crook

 

[mrhick01]

He’s a pro at playing this game.

I think he "took one for the team." (keep your mind out of the gutter!)

He used his own money toward Trump's...projects, and not Apple's.

I get why many will still judge Cook harshly for this, and so be it. However, I acknowledge that he's tried to keep Apple out of 45/47's ire and caprice.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Calling Tim Cook a sellout for engaging with the current administration is a misunderstanding of what a CEO’s job actually is. When you’re running a trillion-dollar company like Apple, maintaining relationships with government regardless of party isn’t optional, it’s part of the role. You don’t have to like how an administration operates, and you don’t have to agree with its policies but at that scale, you still have to work with whoever is in power. That’s just basic business. Policy, regulation, trade, manufacturing, and privacy all directly impact Apple. Any competent CEO is going to engage with leadership to protect the company, its employees, and its customers.

 

[IIGS User]

Tim may not be political, but he is all about Presidents. Especially dead ones like Washington, Lincoln, Grant, and Jackson.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Calling Tim Cook a sellout for engaging with the current administration is a misunderstanding of what a CEO’s job actually is. When you’re running a trillion-dollar company like Apple, maintaining relationships with government regardless of party isn’t optional, it’s part of the role. You don’t have to like how an administration operates, and you don’t have to agree with its policies but at that scale, you still have to work with whoever is in power. That’s just basic business. Policy, regulation, trade, manufacturing, and privacy all directly impact Apple. Any competent CEO is going to engage with leadership to protect the company, its employees, and its customers.

He's doing WAY more than just "maintaining relationships".

There's a lot of nuance that's possible while not capitulating and embarrassing oneself, and torching their reputation, as Tim Cook has done.

 

[AppleFan91]

Sure he can, if it permits Apple not being hit with huge tariffs that would need to be passed down to Apple customers.

It seems many here would be OK if they had to pay those large tariffs when purchasing Apple products.

Did you not read all of my post and only took out one piece?

He can't say he's not political yet PERSONALLY donate $1mil to Trump's campaign. I understand why he's doing it, as I explained in my post, that you either didn't fully read or chose to leave out of your post. But just because it makes sense why he did it, it also doesn't make sense to say you aren't political, yet PERSONALLY donate $1mil to a political candidate.

 

[Nyx1]

From the best engineering Apple to the best business man for Apple

 

[cicalinarrot]

Translated:
"I only care about making money. If Hitler were in power, I'd be helping him build a nice ballroom in Berlin".

 

[iMac The Knife]

Cook: I'm not a political person.

Also Cook: Hi Trump, here's $1 million, let me kiss the ring...oh, and I'd like something with some gold in it.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

And that all changes once tariffs are involved and he begins glazing Trump

I just learned what glazing was from my 13 year old the other day. Thanks for brining Gen Alpha language to the board!

 

[turbineseaplane]

Sure he can, if it results in Apple not being hit with huge tariffs that would need to be passed down to Apple customers.

It seems many here would be OK if they had to pay those large tariffs when purchasing Apple products.

There are far more important things in life and business than "doing anything to hopefully avoid tariffs".

 

[Happy_John]

He might not be "a political person", but he acts and reacts to the political climate. To be fair, that's part of his job description. But how he does that shouldn't be immune to criticism.

 

[headlessmike]

"I interact on policy, not politics"

The choice of which policies to care about, and whose table to sit at, is inherently a political act. There's no policy without politics, unless you only care about your own self interest, in which case you'll sit at any table.

"I'm not political"

This is almost always a claim made by people who benefit substantially from the current arrangement

"I'm straight down the middle"

The middle of what, Tim? From your comments, we can only assume it's the middle between fascism and the status quo.

I'm sure there is a difference between Tim Cook the CEO and Tim Cook the person. The CEO of one of the largest companies in the world is doing their best to stay friendly with whoever is in power, be it the republican president of the United States or the General Secretary of the Chinese communist party, by finding a middle ground that keeps everyone happy. The opinions of Tim Cook the person are none of our business if he doesn't want to share them with us.