Apple CEO Tim Cook had a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Friday, as reported by The New York Times.
Sources familiar with the event stated that Trump and Cook were scheduled to dine together on the patio of Trump’s Florida estate. Cook stood out among tech leaders during Trump’s previous term by actively fostering a close relationship with the White House, leveraging it to address Apple’s global legal challenges.
Trump has previously shown a willingness to hear Cook’s concerns about European regulations. During Trump’s first term, Cook also had access to influential figures such as Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, although neither is expected to hold a formal role in the upcoming administration.
One of the key topics of discussion between Trump and Cook has been Apple’s ongoing issues with European regulators. In March, the European Union imposed a $2 billion fine on Apple, accusing the company of stifling competition in the music streaming industry, particularly disadvantaging Spotify, a Swedish-based rival. Additionally, regulators criticized Apple’s control over its App Store, labeling it anti-competitive.
Trump recalled reassuring Cook about the matter during an earlier conversation:
“I’m not going to let them take advantage of our companies,” Trump said. “That won’t be happening.”
In contrast to Cook’s ongoing dialogue with Trump, the president-elect also recently met with other tech leaders. In November, Trump sat down with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in what appeared to be an effort to repair their relationship after years of tension. Trump had previously accused Meta of interfering in the 2020 presidential election. Looking ahead, Trump is set to meet Amazon founder Jeff Bezos next week.
Cook faced some backlash from Apple supporters after publicly congratulating Trump on his election win. In his message, Cook said, “We look forward to engaging with you and your administration to help make sure the United States continues to lead with and be fueled by ingenuity, innovation, and creativity.”
{Matzav.com}