Apple CEO Tim Cook intends to contribute $1 million to Donald Trump's inauguration fund, according to Axios. The contribution will be a personal donation from Cook, rather than one from Apple.
After Trump's victory, Cook extended his congratulations to him on the social media platform X, and in December, Cook dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago.
Cook sought to sustain a relationship with Trump throughout Trump's initial presidential term, and it seems Cook intends to persist with that strategy moving forward.
Sources informed Axios that Cook is contributing to the inauguration "in the spirit of unity." Apple is not anticipated to contribute a gift.
Trump is assuming office as Apple encounters regulatory scrutiny in the United States and abroad. In March 2024, the United States Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Apple for purportedly breaching antitrust legislation through various means involving its platforms. The legal confrontation between Apple and the Department of Justice will unfold during Trump's administration.
Amazon, Meta, Uber, Sam Altman of OpenAI, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Coinbase, Toyota, Ford, General Motors, AT&T, Black & Decker, and Charter Communications are contributing to Trump's inaugural fund.
The reports about Cook donating a significant amount of sum for Trump's inauguration was met with mixed reactions online. One X user claimed, "Sad political pandering @apple @tim_cook. I understand it's a squeeze you find yourself in, but you didn't have to play along. You could have gracefully stepped out of the kowtowing game."
"One small donation for an old president, one big tax/tariff cut for apple," a second netizen responded, while another X user wrote, "This kind of shit should be illegal, it's nothing but bribes and buying favors."
Others went as far as calling Cook a "weak leader" and "a total sell out." A fifth source suggested, "People are looking into this way too deeply. It's business sense to cosy up to whoever is going to be in charge."
CBS News reported Trump is scheduled to do a rally-style event on January 19 at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., shortly before his inauguration. Capital One Arena, the venue for the Washington Wizards basketball club and the Washington Capitals hockey team, accommodates roughly 20,000 spectators.
The "Make America Great Again Victory Rally" is set to commence at 3 p.m. ET, as indicated by a registration link from the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee. Trump is scheduled to be inaugurated for a second term on January 20.
Business Times has reached out to both Donald Trump and Tim Cook for comments.
