Trump praises Tim Cook on departure from Apple: ‘I have always been a big fan’

President Trump praised Tim Cook’s tenure as the CEO of Apple on Tuesday, a day after the company announced Cook would step down from the role.

“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,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

The president recounted a phone call he received from Cook during his first term in the White House, in which he said he was “very impressed with myself to have the head of Apple calling to ‘kiss my a–,’” describing the exchange as 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,” he continued. “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.”

Apple announced on Monday that Cook was stepping down after 15 years and would become the executive chair of its board of directors. John Ternus, the senior vice president of hardware engineering, is set to take over as CEO in September.

Cook took the helm at Apple after the late co-founder Steve Jobs resigned amid a battle with cancer in 2011 and oversaw the tech giant as it reached a market capitalization of $4 trillion last year.

“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 who have been unwavering in their dedication to enriching the lives of our customers and creating the best products and services in the world,” he said in a statement.

Trump and Cook have maintained a working relationship over the years, despite occasional tension.

The former Apple chief secured an exemption from certain “reciprocal” tariffs on electronics imported from China, including smartphones, last August. The company was also exempted from tariffs on foreign-made chips last year after announcing plans to invest $100 billion in U.S. manufacturing.

That announcement came after months of pressure from Trump on the tech company to expand domestic production, with him taking aim at Cook last May over Apple’s manufacturing presence in India.  

The president brushed aside any hint of criticism on Tuesday, describing the outgoing CEO as “an incredible guy.”

“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,” Trump wrote.

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