In a statement posted on X, Apple CEO Tim Cook has offered congratulations to President Trump on his victory in the 2024 US elections. Cook expressed his enthusiasm for working with the Trump administration in the future, stating, “Congratulations President Trump on your victory! We look forward to engaging with you and your administration to help make sure the United States continues to lead with and be fueled by ingenuity, innovation, and creativity.”
This message signals a continuation of the strong relationship that has existed between Cook and Trump throughout their respective tenures. During Trump’s first term, he praised Cook for his direct communication style, describing him as a “great executive.” Notably, Cook always made a point of directly engaging with Trump on serious issues, rather than relying on intermediaries, a practice that impressed the President.
The US-China trade war, a defining issue of Trump’s first term, is expected to escalate in his second term, potentially posing challenges to Apple. Cook played a significant role in mitigating the impact of tariffs on Apple products during the first term, actively lobbying against their imposition. His efforts were successful in delaying and ultimately preventing tariffs on iPhones, iPads, and Macs when Trump signed a limited trade deal.
Beyond the trade war, Cook has engaged with the White House on a variety of topics, making multiple personal visits to discuss broader issues with Trump. Even a lighthearted jab from Trump, referring to Cook as “Tim Apple,” was met with good humor by the Apple CEO.
The continuation of this positive relationship between Apple and the Trump administration bodes well for both the company and the US economy. Trump’s prediction in 2016 that Apple would shift iPhone production to the US seems closer to reality with TSMC establishing manufacturing facilities on US soil. Apple already manufactures some of its iPhone chips at TSMC’s Arizona plant, and the close collaboration between Cook and Trump is expected to further fuel this trend, expanding US-based manufacturing of Apple products.
