Apple CEO Tim Cook joins the circle of Silicon Valley executives contributing financially to President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. This announcement comes at a time when relations between tech and the future president are in good shape.
A strategic rapprochement of Silicon Valley
Tim Cook will personally donate a million dollars to Donald Trump’s inauguration committee. This decision is part of a desire for national unity, with Apple’s CEO considering the inauguration as an important American tradition. Note that Apple as a company will not make any donations, so Tim Cook is financing this donation with his personal fortune. The indiscretions ofAxios indicate:
Cook, a proud Alabama native, considers the inauguration a great American tradition and is donating to the inauguration in the spirit of unity, according to sources. The company should not give.
This gesture is not isolated since other tech giants like Meta, Amazon and OpenAI, via their respective leaders, have also each pledged a million dollars. Traditional companies such as Toyota, Ford, General Motors and Goldman Sachs also participate in financing this event.
A special relationship between Cook and Trump
Tim Cook’s strategy with Donald Trump proved particularly effective during the first term of the presidency. The Apple CEO has been able to develop a methodical approach, focusing each meeting on a specific subject, as in 2017 when he convinced Trump to review his plans concerning customs tariffs which would have impacted iPhone prices.
Most recently, in December, Cook visited Mar-a-Lago for dinner with the president-elect. This meeting follows several discussions, in particular concerning the fines imposed by the European Union on Apple. Trump also reportedly assured Cook that he would not let the EU “profit” from American companies.
This special relationship comes at a crucial time for Apple, as the company faces significant regulatory pressures in the United States, including a Justice Department lawsuit for alleged antitrust violations. Moreover, other leaders have tried to get closer to Trump, such as Mark Zuckerberg by imitating Cook. The giant has just parted ways with Nick Clegg, replaced by a fervent supporter of the new president.
