Apple's Tim Cook Among CEOs Invited on Trump's Trip to China

[MacRumors]

The Trump administration plans to invite Apple CEO Tim Cook and CEOs from other companies like Nvidia, Qualcomm, Exxon, and Boeing on a trip to China next week, reports Semafor.

Trump will apparently focus on building his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the May 14 and May 15 meetings. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue have been suggesting CEOs for Trump to invite. It will be the first U.S. presidential visit to China since Trump's 2017 visit.

Apple CEO Tim Cook is set to leave his role on September 1, 2026, with Apple hardware chief John Ternus taking over as CEO.

Cook will remain at Apple as executive chairman, and will "assist with certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world." Cook recently said that he plans to be in the executive chairman role "for a long time," and Apple will remain his top priority.

Two weeks ago, Trump said he has "always been a big fan" of Cook, and he has bragged about the relationship Cook has established with him. "I was very impressed with myself to have the head of Apple calling to 'kiss my ass,'" said Trump, speaking of his first presidential term.

Cook has worked through two Trump presidencies, and he has worked to maintain a positive rapport for Apple's benefit. Cook donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund in 2025, and he marked Apple's $600 billion U.S. investment pledge with a glass-and-24-karat gold plaque that he gifted to Trump.

With Cook taking on an expanded role interfacing with Trump and other policymakers worldwide, incoming CEO John Ternus will be able to spend more time focused on Apple. Ternus also won't be subject to the same criticism that Cook has faced for his relationship with Trump.

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's Tim Cook Among CEOs Invited on Trump's Trip to China

 

[macman01101]

Isn’t that degrading to Tim Cook to say that? Hoping we can keep it more professional and constructive here, regardless of political leanings.

 

[BaldiMac]

This is the kind of event that is perfectly normal for high level CEOs to do regardless of presidential administration.

If only he stuck with this kind of engagement instead of the bribery.

 

[Starfia]

OH MY GOD HE'S A FASCIST–

(Falls down stairs)

 

[SRQrws]

I hope Tim likes eating nothing but McDonald's on a 14 hour flight.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Two weeks ago, Trump said he has "always been a big fan" of Cook, and he has bragged about the relationship Cook has established with him. "I was very impressed with myself to have the head of Apple calling to 'kiss my ass,'" said Trump, speaking of his first presidential term.

Bravo to MR for continually including this quote.

Tim jumped on the grenades and all of Apple land should be thankful to him for sacrificing his dignity and reputation.

 

[B4U]

Unfortunately, Tim may feel just like home there. 🙄

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

pucker up Tim 😘 🍊

 

[turbineseaplane]

I hope Tim likes eating nothing but McDonald's on a 14 hour flight.

I can imagine the McMuffin fart smell already.
😷 🤢

 

[emmab2006]

I can imagine the McMuffin fart smell already.
😷 🤢

im more worried about the Filet-O-Fish

 

[Nyx1]

Finally he leave being CEO and now he become the real chairman

 

[DJTaurus]

Let’s Do this!!! Thunder is coming!!!! God bless America!! 🇺🇸 🇺🇸

 

[CarAnalogy]

I hope Tim likes eating nothing but McDonald's on a 14 hour flight.

Pretty sure he is contractually obligated to fly by himself in his own private plane.

 

[Corefile]

I hope Trump talks Tim into supporting macOS on Intel for a few years yet.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I hope Trump talks Tim into supporting macOS on Intel for a few years yet.

Given his very small hands, if Don gets Tim to make a new iPhone Mini, I'll have to say something nice about him.

Will oblige if he gets it done!

A history of Donald Trump, his 'tiny' fingers - and gold Sharpies

Donald Trump says his hands aren't small - and neither is his penis.

www.bbc.com

Trump so upset by detail in GQ profile he ordered staff to buy up copies, writer says

The journalist wrote that Trump had ‘hands small and neatly groomed’ in his 1984 profile

www.independent.co.uk

Finally, There's Proof That Donald Trump Has Small Hands

He has smaller hands than 85 percent of American men.

www.huffpost.com

'It’s pretty small': Trump's left hand on display for all to judge in New York

An imprint of the Republican candidate’s hand is at Madame Tussaud’s New York wax museum, and looks to be below average size at a mere 7.25 inches

www.theguardian.com

 

[DocMultimedia]

I'll be impressed if he make it there and back. Absolutely no way I'd survive that flight. I'd rather take Spirit Airlines. 😉

 

[maruyama]

That's got to be awkward meeting with Xi when your company does a huge amount of business with both China and Taiwan, and you have to either not mention Taiwan or be like "that other part of China that's definitely also China but just in a lowkey way, haha, definitely part of China but we hope you keep it lowkey ha"

 

[Artemiz]

How about those cheap gas prices first?

 

[Elwe]

I really don’t get the Cook hate on this topic. I know many of you want him (and Apple generally) to formally join the “resistance”. But even if you actually believe that, can’t you admit that it might be better to allow Cook to placate Trump now, when necessary; and to allow Ternus some runway to start his CEO tenure without getting into a needless confrontation with the President of the US? I personally want as many people *as possible* at Apple focused on product and logistics. If that means the soon-to-be chairman needs to spend all his time on politics and the regulatory environment, I would think every sane person would be 100% fine with that. The administration can quite easily cripple the ability for any business to be successful. Every President in the last three decades has threatened doing exactly this to disfavored companies and industries.

 

[turbineseaplane]

can’t you admit that it might be better to allow Cook to placate Trump now, when necessary;

I said as much above!
That’s the jumping on the greande part.

I think everybody is a big fan of him taking all the heat at this point and saving Ternus from it

 

[minik]

Trump will apparently focus on building his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the May 14 and May 15 meetings.

Article Link: Apple's Tim Cook Among CEOs Invited on Trump's Trip to China

That's gonna go so well.

 

[Naraxus]

How about those cheap gas prices first?

Currently in Washington State gas prices hover around $5.50. Were it not for the idiocy down in Olympia taxing & spending the citizens into the poorhouse the last few decades those prices would be around $3.

But tell me again how Trump is responsible for high gas prices

 

[turbineseaplane]

Currently in Washington State gas prices hover around $5.50. Were it not for the idiocy down in Olympia taxing & spending the citizens into the poorhouse the last few decades those prices would be around $3.

But tell me again how Trump is responsible for high gas prices

You don’t think Dons Iran war of choice has impacted gas prices?

The entire world of oil and gas analysts and markets disagrees with you.