Former President Donald Trump offered extensive praise for Tim Cook on Tuesday, following Apple's announcement that its longtime chief executive would transition to executive chair of the board. In a detailed post on his Truth Social platform, Trump characterized Cook as an "amazing manager and leader" who surpassed even the legacy of Apple's legendary co-founder, Steve Jobs.
"I have always been a big fan of Tim Cook, and likewise, Steve Jobs," Trump wrote. "But if Steve was not taken from the Planet Earth so young, and ran the company instead of Tim, the company would have done well, but nowhere near as well as it has under Tim." The commentary comes as Apple prepares for John Ternus, its senior vice president of hardware engineering, to assume the CEO role in September.
Trump recounted the origins of his relationship with Cook, describing a phone call during his first term that he said marked the beginning of a "long and very nice" dynamic. "I was very impressed with myself to have the head of Apple calling to 'kiss my a--,'" Trump wrote, characterizing the exchange. He noted that Cook would call periodically during his presidency and that Trump would "help him where I could."
The former president claimed that after providing "3 or 4 BIG HELPS," he began telling people that Cook was an exceptional executive. This working relationship, which Trump highlighted, persisted despite occasional public tensions over issues like manufacturing. The collaboration yielded significant policy wins for Apple during Trump's administration, including critical tariff exemptions.
Last August, Apple secured an exemption from proposed "reciprocal" tariffs on electronics imported from China, a major relief for its iPhone supply chain. The company also received a tariff exemption on foreign-made chips after announcing plans to invest $100 billion in U.S. manufacturing. These decisions came amid sustained pressure from the Trump White House for the tech giant to expand domestic production, a theme that resurfaced when Trump criticized Apple's manufacturing footprint in India last May.
Cook, who took over as CEO in 2011 after Steve Jobs resigned due to illness, presided over Apple's rise to a $4 trillion market capitalization last year. In a statement on his transition, Cook said, "I love Apple with all of my being, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a team of such ingenious, innovative, creative, and deeply caring people."
Trump's effusive remarks notably brushed aside past criticisms, instead framing Cook's career as "AMAZING" and "almost incomparable." He expressed confidence that Cook would "continue to do great work for Apple, and whatever else he chooses to work on" in his new role as executive chair.
The public endorsement from a leading presidential candidate underscores the intersection of corporate leadership, technology policy, and political relationships. Trump's praise for a major tech CEO comes as he navigates other policy challenges, including internal divisions over economic forecasts amid international tensions. The moment also reflects how key business relationships formed during his presidency continue to shape his public commentary as he campaigns to return to the White House.
