Before US President Donald Trump’s recent visit to the Middle East, the White House had asked many business leaders from top US companies to join him on the trip. One of those invited was Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook. But Cook chose not to go, according to a report by The New York Times. Two people close to the matter say that this decision upset Trump. During the trip, which included stops in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, Trump made several public comments about Cook’s absence.
While speaking at an event in Riyadh, Trump thanked Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang for attending the tour. Then he pointed out that Tim Cook was not there. “I mean, Tim Cook isn’t here, but you are,” Trump said to Huang in front of other top company heads like Larry Fink of BlackRock, Jane Fraser of Citigroup, and Sam Altman of OpenAI. Later, during his visit to Qatar, Trump said he had “a little problem with Tim Cook” and seemed unhappy that Apple was doing more of its production work in India instead of the US.
Soon after, Trump posted a message on social media saying he might put a 25 per cent tax on iPhones made outside the US. This was a surprise for many people, including some in his own team and at Apple. Just a few weeks earlier, Cook had spoken with the government and received special permission to avoid another high tax on iPhones made in China. That deal now seems to be in danger.
Meanwhile, Apple is making bigger plans in India. According to the Financial Times, Foxconn, the company that helps Apple build its iPhones, is setting up a new $1.5 billion (roughly Rs 12,768 crores) factory near Chennai. This plant will make parts for iPhones, including the display module that controls the screen. India is already the second-largest smartphone market in the world, and Apple is expected to increase production there in the coming years.
Trump doesn’t seem happy about this. He said publicly that he doesn’t want Apple building more in India. He believes more iPhones should be made in the US. This has made Apple’s business decisions part of a bigger political argument.
Experts say that Tim Cook used to have a strong working relationship with Trump. He was seen as someone who could talk to the president and keep things calm between Apple and the government. But that may no longer be the case.
As per The New York Times, Apple has not commented on the matter, and the White House also hasn’t shared any details about Cook not joining the Middle East trip. India Today
