‘I’m not political’: Tim Cook says his 24-karat gift to Trump wasn’t a political statement, but that Apple is a ‘proud American company’ | Tech Radar

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‘I’m not political’: Tim Cook says his 24-karat gift to Trump wasn’t a political statement, but that Apple is a ‘proud American company’

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(Image credit: Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)

Apple CEO Tim Cook is opening up about his relationship with President Trump

Cook is reiterating Apple's commitment to US manufacturing

We finally know if Cook plans to stay or go in the near term

Apple CEO Tim Cook is finally opening up about his relationship with the Trump White House, and about his future — and his responses are likely to cheer some and frustrate others.

Cook, who's been with Apple for 28 years and has been CEO for 15 years, has been opening up in a series of interviews to mark the occasion of Apple's 50th Anniversary.

Cook is not really the navel-gazing type, and neither is Apple as a whole, a point Cook reiterated to me when I spoke to him at the first in-person 50th Anniversary celebration at New York City's Grand Central Station.

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But now Cook is being pressed in interviews about the past, present, and some controversial topics, including his dealings with the Trump Administration, tariffs, and whether or not Cook plans to step down as CEO (and possibly install Apple Hardware Lead John Ternus).

In a chat with Good Morning America's Michael Strahan, Cook did his best to explain his sometimes seemingly chummy relationship with President Donald Trump, who famously once called Cook "Tim Apple".

Cook attended the Trump inauguration last year and, in August, famously presented Trump with a 24-karat-gold and glass trophy to commemorate the launch of Apple's American Manufacturing Program. It featured the Apple logo in glass, Trump's name, and Cook's signature.

More recently, Cook attended the Melania Documentary screening at the White House on the same day that US Border Patrol Agents shot and killed protester Alex Peretti.

Strahan pressed Cook about that apparent closeness with the administration and the criticism Cook received over it. Without addressing that criticism directly, Cook explained his approach to the Trump White House.

"What I do is I interact on policy, not politics. I'm not a political person on either side. I'm not political. And so I'm kind of straight down the middle, and I focus on policy," said Cook.

Cook added that he's pleased he can "talk to the President about policy."

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Tim Cook and Alicia Keys at Apple's 50th Anniversary kickoff in Grand Central Station in NYC. (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff)

The distinction Cook makes is important. Instead of focusing on controversial topics, perhaps the stances the White House takes on topics like DEI, Immigration, and the war in Iran, Cook is focusing on policy decisions that directly affect Apple and its products.

Whether or not you buy that Cook is essentially apolitical, lives in the middle, and can so neatly silo policy and politics, Cook's statements and actions make his strategy clear.

As Cook told Strahan, "We're a very proud American company and want to do as much here as we possibly can." Apple has, in recent years, been moving some component manufacturing for i Phone glass and some Apple silicon to the US, though i Phone assembly still happens outside the US.

For Cook and Apple, it seems, "policy" equals "business". It's fairly clear Cook is not talking to Trump about issues of affordable housing, hunger, and gas prices. Instead, he's laser-focused on the things that impact your i Phone. Mac Book and i Pad.

The trophy Tim Cook gave President Donald Trump (Image credit: Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)

It's a narrow view that may not assuage all his critics, but at least Cook has provided some clarity on how he runs a company that, according to its stated company values, views business as something that "can and should be a force for good” while dealing with a US administration that some view as working in the opposite direction.

Cook's close relationship with the White House may soon be tested. When Strahan asked him about the $3.3 billion in US tariffs Apple has paid in the first three quarters of the fiscal year, and if he would, as some companies are doing, sue to get the funds back, Cook didn't exactly say Apple won't.

"Well, we're monitoring the situation as to and to see what the courts will rule there, and we'll decide accordingly," said Cook.

Cook will, it seems, have time to figure it out. When asked by Strahan if he's ready to step back, Cook said talk about that was just rumor, and that, "I can't imagine life without Apple."

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Follow Tech Radar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course, you can also follow Tech Radar on You Tube and Tik Tok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on Whats App too.

Follow Tech Radar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course, you can also follow Tech Radar on You Tube and Tik Tok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on Whats App too.

A 38-year industry veteran and award-winning journalist, Lance has covered technology since PCs were the size of suitcases and “on line” meant “waiting.” He’s a former Lifewire Editor-in-Chief, Mashable Editor-in-Chief, and, before that, Editor in Chief of PCMag.com and Senior Vice President of Content for Ziff Davis, Inc. He also wrote a popular, weekly tech column for Medium called The Upgrade.

Lance Ulanoff makes frequent appearances on national, international, and local news programs including Live with Kelly and Mark, the Today Show, Good Morning America, CNBC, CNN, and the BBC.

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Key Takeaways

• ‘I’m not political’: Tim Cook says his 24-karat gift to Trump wasn’t a political statement, but that Apple is a ‘proud American company’

• When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission

• (Image credit: Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)

• Apple CEO Tim Cook is opening up about his relationship with President Trump

• Cook is reiterating Apple's commitment to US manufacturing