As the CEO of Apple, Tim Cook’s responsibilities include maintaining relationships with political figures. According to former U.S. President Donald Trump, Cook recently spoke with him regarding the European Union’s latest penalties against Apple.
Trump Discusses Economy and His Relationship with Cook on Podcast
In the latest episode of the PBD (Patrick Bet-David) podcast, Trump discussed a variety of political topics, including the state of the U.S. economy. During the conversation, Trump revealed that he had just spoken with Apple’s Tim Cook “two or three hours ago.”
According to Trump, Cook told him that the European Union had recently fined Apple $15 billion. Trump responded, “That’s a lot of money.” He continued by saying, “Then, on top of that, the EU hit them with another $2 billion, so it’s around a $17 to $18 billion fine.” Cook also noted, “They’re using that money to run their enterprise,” referring to the European Union.
Trump says he replied to Cook, “I’ve got to get elected first. But I’m not going to let them take advantage of our companies.”
Apple’s History of Disputes with the EU
The fines referenced by Trump involve multiple issues. The largest is the recent ruling on Apple’s Irish tax case, which carries a €13 billion penalty. Other fines relate to Apple’s role in “thwarting fair competition from music-streaming rivals,” with additional fines possibly forthcoming related to Apple’s compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
Although it hasn’t been reported yet, it’s possible that Cook has had similar conversations with Vice President Kamala Harris. However, as we’ve seen during current and past U.S. administrations, Cook consistently seeks to represent Apple’s best interests with whoever is in power. This is, after all, part of a modern CEO’s role at a company like Apple.
In the past, Cook has emphasized that being involved in conversations is more productive than staying on the sidelines. In 2016, he stated, “You don’t change things by just yelling. You change things by showing everyone why your way is the best.”
This recent conversation with Trump once again highlights Cook’s active role in defending Apple’s interests, regardless of the political climate.
