Former President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform on Tuesday to commend Tim Cook as an "incredible guy" in response to Apple's recent announcement that Cook will soon relinquish his role as CEO. In a detailed post, Trump reminisced about the inception of their relationship, which he described as beginning with a phone call from Cook early in his first term.
Trump Recalls Cook's Request for Assistance
"For me it began with a phone call from Tim at the start of my First Term," Trump wrote. "He had a fairly large problem that only I, as President, could resolve." Trump humorously noted his reaction to the call, stating, "When I got the call I said, wow, it's Tim Apple (Cook!) calling, how big is that? I was very impressed with myself to have the head of Apple calling to 'kiss my ass.'" He explained that after Cook outlined the issue, which Trump deemed "tough," he acted swiftly to address it, marking the start of what he called a "long and very nice relationship."
Cook's Leadership and Ongoing Role at Apple
Over the years, Trump observed Cook's capabilities, describing him as "an amazing manager and leader." He added, "He makes these calls to me, I help him out (but not always, because he will, on occasion, be too aggressive in his ask!), and he gets the job done, QUICKLY." While Cook is set to step down as CEO in September, transitioning the role to John Ternus, Apple's current senior vice president of hardware engineering, he will remain with the company as executive chairman of the board. In this capacity, Cook will assist with various company matters, including engaging with global policymakers, potentially continuing his interactions with Trump on behalf of Apple.
Cook's Controversial Ties to the Trump Administration
Despite Trump's effusive praise, Cook's relationship with the Trump administration has drawn scrutiny. Cook personally donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural committee and attended the event, with Apple also contributing to the president's White House ballroom. In August 2025, Cook gifted Trump a piece of Apple-produced glass mounted on a 24-karat gold base, part of a successful effort to secure exemptions from chip tariffs for the company. More recently, Cook attended a White House screening of Melania Trump's documentary on the same day federal agents killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
In response to criticism, Cook told ABC's "Good Morning America," "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." However, Trump has also targeted Cook, particularly regarding Apple's iPhone production in India as the company seeks to reduce its reliance on China.
Trump's Final Commendation
Concluding his post, Trump praised Cook's "AMAZING career," emphatically stating, "Quite simply, Tim Cook is an incredible guy!!!" This endorsement comes amid ongoing discussions about corporate leadership and political engagements in the tech industry.
