After Apple announced that Tim Cook will become executive chairman of its board of directors and step down as CEO, Donald Trump on Tuesday praised him as an “incredible guy” and said he is a “big fan” of Tim Cook.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump reflected on his relationship with Cook, saying it began during his first presidential term when the Apple CEO reached out to him for help with a major issue. He also made a controversial remark, saying he was surprised to receive a call from the head of Apple to “kiss my ass.”
In the post, Trump talked about how the Apple CEO reached out to him during turbulent times, saying:
"For me it began with a phone call from Tim at the beginning of my First Term. He had a fairly large problem that only I, as President, could fix. Most people would have paid millions of dollars to a consultant, who I probably would not have known, but who would say that he knew me well. The fees would be paid but the job would not have gotten done. 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.' Anyway, he explained his problem, a tough one it was, I felt he was right and got it taken care of, quickly and effectively."
Trump said Cook reached out to him several times during his presidency, noting he would “help him where I could,” and calling him an “amazing manager and leader” who “gets the job done, QUICKLY.” He also compared Cook’s leadership with Steve Jobs, suggesting Apple may not have seen the same growth under Jobs.
Praising Cook’s tenure, Trump added, “Tim Cook had an AMAZING career, almost incomparable, and will go on and continue to do great work for Apple, and whatever else he chooses to work on.” With this post, Trump once again did what he is notoriously known for heaping praise on himself and tooting his own horn.
Apple announced that John Ternus, senior vice president of hardware engineering, will become CEO on September 1, 2026, while Tim Cook will transition to executive chairman. The company named Ternus, a long-time hardware executive, as its next leader as it positions itself for industry shifts driven by artificial intelligence. The move marks Apple’s first CEO transition since Tim Cook succeeded Steve Jobs in 2011.
I have always been a big fan of Tim Cook, and likewise, Steve Jobs, 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. For me it began with a phone call from Tim at the beginning of my First Term. He had a fairly large problem that only I, as President, could fix. Most people would have paid millions of dollars to a consultant, who I probably would not have known, but who would say that he knew me well. The fees would be paid but the job would not have gotten done. 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.” Anyway, he explained his problem, a tough one it was, I felt he was right and got it taken care of, quickly and effectively. That was the beginning of a long and very nice relationship. During my five years as President, Tim would call me, but never too much, and I would help him where I could. Years latter, after 3 or 4 BIG HELPS, I started to say to people, anyone who would listen, that this guy is an amazing manager and leader. 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, without a dime being given to those very expensive (millions of dollars!) consultants around town who sometimes get it done, and sometimes don’t. Anyway, Tim Cook had an AMAZING career, almost incomparable, and will go on and continue to do great work for Apple, and whatever else he chooses to work on. Quite simply, Tim Cook is an incredible guy!!! President DONALD J. TRUMP
