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US President Donald Trump on Tuesday stirred attention with a bizarre Truth Social post, recalling that outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook had once called him during his first term to “kiss my a**”. Despite the blunt remark, Trump went on to praise Cook as “an incredible guy” and credited his leadership, while also invoking co-founder Steve Jobs’s legacy.
After 15 years at the helm, Tim Cook, 65, will hand over CEO responsibilities to John Ternus, 50, on September 1, while continuing with Apple Inc. as executive chairman.
“I have always been a big fan of Tim Cook, and likewise, Steve Jobs,” Trump wrote, adding that had Jobs lived longer and continued to lead Apple, “the company would have done well, but nowhere near as well as it has under Tim.”
Trump went on to describe that call as the start of his working relationship with Cook, saying the Apple chief approached him with a “fairly large problem” that required federal intervention.
“For me, it began with a phone call from Tim at the beginning of my First Term a tough one it was,” Trump said, adding that he resolved the issue “quickly and effectively.”
He contrasted Cook’s approach with what he described as the costly and often ineffective use of consultants in Washington. According to Trump, Cook bypassed that route and instead reached out directly, allowing the matter to be addressed without “millions of dollars” in advisory fees.
“That was the beginning of a long and very nice relationship,” Trump said, adding that Cook would contact him occasionally during his presidency, but “never too much.”
Over time, Trump said his assessment of Cook strengthened after several interactions. “After 3 or 4 big helps, I started to say to people... that this guy is an amazing manager and leader,” he said, adding that Cook “gets the job done, quickly.”
The US President also credited Cook with delivering results efficiently without relying on what he described as expensive consultants “who sometimes get it done, and sometimes don’t.”
Calling Cook an "incredible guy", he gave his take on the Apple chief’s career and future. “Tim Cook had an amazing career, almost incomparable,” he wrote, adding that he expected the 65-year-old to continue delivering strong results for Apple.
TIM COOK'S RELATION WITH TRUMP
Cook maintained a largely pragmatic and cordial relationship with Trump, marked by direct access and regular communication. Trump often noted that Cook would call him personally to discuss business concerns, setting him apart from other tech leaders. Their ties were visible during trade tensions, when Cook successfully lobbied for relief from tariffs on Apple products.
Cook also used gestures to maintain goodwill, including gifting Trump a custom-made Mac Pro — dubbed a “golden gift” in political circles – symbolising their working rapport. Apple’s announcements of major US investments further aligned with the Trump administration’s economic messaging.
Despite the bonhomie, Cook, who also attended Trump's inauguration in January 2025, did not shy away from differences. He publicly disagreed with the US President on issues like climate change, immigration and user privacy.
Cook criticised the US's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement and defended encryption and user privacy when the administration pushed for greater access. His approach remained strategic: engage closely with the Trump administration, while protecting Apple’s broader interests.
- Ends
Published By:
Prateek Chakraborty
Published On:
Apr 21, 2026 17:34 IST
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