Apple CEO Tim Cook gifts President Trump gold & glass commemorative plaque

AppleInsider

In addition to the announcements to expand US investments to $600 billion, Apple CEO Tim Cook provided a piece of Gorilla Glass and a golden stand to President Donald Trump to commemorate the news.

Apple CEO Tim Cook and President Donald Trump

Apple has been playing the appeasement game with the current US administration as a part of CEO Tim Cook's playbook for dealing with Donald Trump. So far, it's worked, as donations, in-person dinners, events, and an even bigger investment may lead to tariff exemptions.

The appearance went as you'd expect, with Cook standing off to the side off camera while President Trump listed what he believes are new accomplishments, despite already having been announced. First, Cook showed off a commemorative plaque, then after Trump rambled about things like the price of eggs for about ten minutes, Cook was invited to provide remarks.

An all-American desk ornament

The plaque itself is a piece of circular Corning glass with an Apple logo carved out of the center. It has text written on it, but it isn't legible in the video. Tim Cook's etched-in signature is obvious.

A Corning Gorilla Glass ornament set in gold sourced from Utah

There's a base to the plaque too that's made of 24K gold from Utah. Even the box is made in the United States.

The plaque was designed by a retired Marine that works at Apple. The use of gold obvious given towards Trump's affinity for it, as can be noted by all of the gold trim seen around the Oval Office.

Cook's live reading of the press releases

Cook's remarks are basically a live reading of Apple's press release peppered with broad compliments for the presidency's commitment to the United States and American jobs. He did note that Apple's new $100 billion investment was a result of Trump challenging Apple to do more.

"Earlier this year, we broke ground on a new factory in Houston to make advanced AI servers," Cook said. "And just last month, the very first test unit rolled off that factory's line proudly made in America."

"President Trump shared some kind words about that work, but he also asked us to think about what more we could commit to doing," Cook continued. "Mr. President, we took that challenge very seriously."

"I'm glad to be here with you today, and I'm very proud to say that today, we're committing an additional 100 billion to the United States, bringing our total U.S. investment to 600 billion over the next four years," Cook added.

President Trump talks at Apple CEO Tim Cook

Other notable moments include a compliment for Apple building new factories and facilities that have their own power supply external to the grid, like Apple Park. Trump inadvertently congratulated Apple's green energy efforts, even though the administration has rolled back nearly all of the adoption programs for clean energy production.

Cook is playing the long game

The awkward press briefing shows that Apple's leadership is capable of doing what it takes to deal with the controversial administration. Cook's playbook for dealing with Trump can be viewed as capitulation, but diplomacy is necessary to keep from taking the hit of additional billions in costs thanks to the current US trade policy.

One effect of the renewed US investment commitment was immediately felt during the briefing. President Trump shared that the expected semiconductor tariffs would be 100%, but that companies that are committed to building in the US would be exempt.

While Trump didn't name Apple directly, it was heavily implied that it would get an exemption.

Apple doesn't import many semiconductors outside of finished goods, so it's not clear what impact the exemption will have.

Apple will announce the iPhone 17 in September, and after $2 billion in expected losses in in total to tariffs through Q4, Apple is looking for savings where it can. While exemptions help, Apple isn't totally immune from the chaos being caused in global markets by US policy, so price raises could still be necessary.



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mikethemartian

It’s comical.

anilu_777

I’m sure Tim goes home and ralfs in the toilet after these meetings. I feel sorry for him having to deal with this bullshit

tundraboy

Anilu_777 said:

I’m sure Tim goes home and ralfs in the toilet after these meetings. I feel sorry for him having to deal with this bullshit

Yup, when you're the CEO of a company whose stock is held in millions of people's retirement accounts, you just have to grit your teeth through necessary but deeply, personally unpleasant tasks.

edited August 6

tshapi

I wonder how many people had to sign off on these 

mpantone

My hunch is that Apple's board of directors discreetly employs a high-level government relations consultant who provides suitable guidance in how Apple handles the current administration. I doubt if Tim himself (or anyone else in the senior management team) came up with the idea of this particular plaque and presentation.

It's worth noting that two board directors were former CEOs of aerospace/military industry corporations who would be well versed in dealing with senior Washington D.C. officials to score big government contracts. There are also two directors from the healthcare/biotech industry. And there is another director from BlackRock.

For sure the BOD would have to be in general agreement in how/what Tim interacts with the White House, Congress, etc. He would definitely need their backing in his actions with POTUS 47. Tim Cook is not acting rogue or blindly shooting from the hip.

In a similar way I'm sure Apple engages the services of diplomatic relations consultants when Tim meets with foreign dignitaries.

Tim is smart enough to know this is how Tim Apple has to play the game for the next 3.5 years.

edited August 6

misterkit

Hey! Wait a minute! Did Tim Cook etch his signature with an auto-etcher?

gwydion

I don't see Jobs acting like this little ridiculous sycophant

During an award ceremony with US Ambassador Arthur Gardner, a ceremonial golden telephone was presented to the Cuban dictator, Fulgencio Batista, in 1957.[3] The instrument is currently on display in Museum of the Revolution, formerly Batista's presidential palace, in Havana.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_telephone

irenew

Creepy. Really.

badmonk

During an award ceremony with US Ambassador Arthur Gardner, a ceremonial golden telephone was presented to the Cuban dictator, Fulgencio Batista, in 1957.[3] The instrument is currently on display in Museum of the Revolution, formerly Batista's presidential palace, in Havana.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_telephone

Thanks for the post and I get it, but Tim has a fiduciary responsibility to the company as a publicly traded company.  He can’t just say FU and walk away.  In this role, he is doing what he needs to do.  And I don’t think it is the fear of being pushed out of a window either.  We will see what happens to Elon.

jon98765

mpantone said:

My hunch is that Apple's board of directors discreetly employs a high-level government relations consultant who provides suitable guidance in how Apple handles the current administration. I doubt if Tim himself (or anyone else in the senior management team) came up with the idea of this particular plaque and presentation.

Not exactly discreet! https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-rollins-97ba87a0/

nickott

mikethemartian said:

It’s comical.

Tim Cook just needs to do what he needs to do to distract our pea brained president, regardless of where the money goes and what for. Trump is like a child. You have to give him candy so he'll sit still and shut the f#ck up.

avon b7

IMO, this was a step too far. Visit, plaque, talk.

Obviously Apple was strong-armed into the investment against its business plans but an agreement and press release would have been adequate.

All of the manufacturering that results from these investments (and those from other companies) will be more expensive and less competitive than the same products made elsewhere. 

In terms of semiconductor production, the US will not see the cutting edge nodes manufactured on US soil unless a US company can top TSMC/Samsung.

Over 90% (98% the last time I checked) of chip production happens on mature nodes and no one is going to top China there. 

And after all the upheaval, stress and lost business for US companies, Trump will be gone, leaving a trail of broken deals, damaging tariffs and 'allies' who have been forced to treat the US as wholly untrustworthy. 

The EU and China will be far less dependent on the dollar and other dependencies are already being reduced.

spunkmeyer

tundraboy said:

Anilu_777 said:

I’m sure Tim goes home and ralfs in the toilet after these meetings. I feel sorry for him having to deal with this bullshit

Yup, when you're the CEO of a company whose stock is held in millions of people's retirement accounts, you just have to grit your teeth through necessary but deeply, personally unpleasant tasks.

Exactly. Tim Cook as CEO has first responsibility to the shareholders. It sucks, it really does, and Tim has effectively communicated how uncomfortable he is having to do this.

But if an insane President has the ability to ruin the company through tariffs, theatre is what Cook must do.

I have no doubt that Trump will insist on more in the near future. That's how the Mafia works.

quakerotis

so done with these a-holes.

On your knees Tim Cook. Your master is ready to serve you.

mieswall

Gifts to Roman emperors were common, especially during the Saturnalia festival and on New Year's Day. These gifts, known as "strenae," were often exchanged between high-ranking officials and the emperor, and could include items like gems, lamps, pastries, and sacred evergreen branches. Gifts to the emperor were sometimes even mandated, as with Emperor Caligula, who collected gifts on the Kalends (January 1st). 

nyc362

NickoTT said:

mikethemartian said:

It’s comical.

Tim Cook just needs to do what he needs to do to distract our pea brained president, regardless of where the money goes and what for. Trump is like a child. You have to give him candy so he'll sit still and shut the f#ck up.

You hit the nail on the head.   A little golden trophy is perfect for him.

Oh... AppleInsider, I really doubt that base is solid 24K gold.  First, it would weigh an absolute ton. Second, 24K gold is pretty much never used for anything big, it's too soft.  Third, my guess is that it is 24k gold leaf (that's what it looks like),   Even Olympic Gold Metals aren't all gold.. of any karat.  

strangedays

It’s absolutely pathetic. Cook is acquiescing to power, with gifts and million dollar bribes. 

xed

mikethemartian said:

It’s comical.

I have a different word — words — to describe bribing public officials for favorable outcomes.

edit: Fixed Freudian slip?

edited August 7

nubus

Xed said:

mikethemartian said:

It’s comical.

I have a different word — words — to describe bribing pubic officials for favorable outcomes.

Pubic officials  

jamescude

Tim is as composed and cool as Gus Fring pretending to be an ally of the Salamancas and I am here for it.