Apple CEO Tim Cook Donating $1 Million to Trump's Inaugural Fund

[Enlightened Doggo]

haha its hilarious reading the meltdowns here. the TDS is incurable.

There is nothing hilarious about half a million Americans dying under his watch while he told people to wear bandanas and did nothing to get medical equipment to hospitals that were sharing respirators between staff. Or that a jury decided he assaulted a woman in a department store. Or that he shares content on social media about executing people on the white house lawn. I didn't worry about him eight years ago, but I realized his critics were right all along by simply paying attention.

 

[canadianreader]

This is nothing more than Bizzare... Trump hates anyone who is Gay or Transgender, for an openly gay man such as Tim Cook to donate to a criminal is BIZZARE what is wrong with america.. i mean really.

In my opinion Trump doesn’t care about sexual orientation that much but he hates identity politics that’s for sure. Back in 2020 he appointed Richard Grenell as head of the DNI who’s openly gay.

 

[definitive]

A jury with way more information than you, who sat there and watched his behavior in court, who listened to all of the recordings, who saw all the evidence, decided unanimously he did it. Meanwhile he repeatedly threatened them and the court throughout the whole proceeding. He is guilty and the only reason he isn't in prison is because he is a former president. Even just his conduct during the proceeding would have placed any regular person in jail.

Unless that regular person's name was "Hunter Biden"

 

[john123]

Trump really amazes me. You either hate him or love him.

Clearly more people loved him this time which is why he won.

But you all have to stop being so melodramatic. The USA survived last time, and honestly Biden was/is so clueless that having a U.S. president who doesn’t wander off randomly or get confused is a big improvement.

This is completely off topic for the thread, but since we're gabbing about politics, I'm feeling the itch to be pedantic.

More people voted for him. However, Trump has consistently had higher disapproval than approval among both the US population at large and registered voters.

The convergence you see in recent weeks is the standard rise in approval ratings that every president gets coming into their new administration.

 

[contacos]

It's wild to me how much money gets burnt for all this political "donation" nonsense in the US while you got people living under the street and people paying off their hospital bills until they die

 

[john123]

Axios: Tim Cook Donates $1 Million to Trump Inauguration

Link to: https://www.axios.com/2025/01/03/tim-cook-apple-donate-1-million-trump-inauguration

daringfireball.net

DF makes a few important points:

In times like this, realpolitik is the only politics. I wouldn’t have the stomach to make this donation, and those of you disgusted by this likely don’t either. Few people are cut out to be the CEO of a large multinational company like Apple. Sometimes you have to eat the **** sandwich.

... only Cook personally, not Apple as a company, is contributing. That’s Cook asking for any and all ire to be directed at him, personally, not Apple.

100% spot on. 100% on every single point.

 

[john123]

It's wild to me how much money gets burnt for all this political "donation" nonsense in the US while you got people living under the street and people paying off their hospital bills until they die

Right? It's so sad.

 

[jon9091]

There is nothing hilarious about half a million Americans dying under his watch while he told people to wear bandanas and did nothing to get medical equipment to hospitals that were sharing respirators between staff. Or that a jury decided he assaulted a woman in a department store. Or that he shares content on social media about executing people on the white house lawn. I didn't worry about him eight years ago, but I realized his critics were right all along by simply paying attention.

And he’s also a convicted felon. Tim Cook donating $1 million to a convicted felon makes me puke 🤮

 

[Abazigal]

I don't think Trump will have forgotten how Apple and its leadership have been supporting Joe Biden's administration. Also, Apple and Elon Musk don't seem to be friends as they had a few public clashes, something that Trump will not have forgotten either. So not sure what Tim Cook tries to achieve here?

If Apple wants to fight Trump of not bringing American jobs back to the USA, he won't win that one, as that was a key point of Trump his political agenda.

Elon Musk appears to have been actively courting Apple of late. He boosted a number of Apple tweets, and recently released an Apple Watch app for the Tesla.

I suspect he wants Apple to eventually resume advertising on their platform (I believe Apple is their largest customer), which would in turn normalise and pave the way for other advertisers to return. And maybe other favours like including Grok amongst the LLMs to be supported on iOS.

Similar to the Mac Pro, Apple will probably just arrange for some small volume Apple product to be made in the US (perhaps even at a loss) just to assuage Trump’s ego. It’s a small price to pay to stay in his good graces, have the antitrust lawsuits against Apple thrown out, and perhaps even work towards having the US administration apply pressure to have the DMA watered down or even tossed out altogether.

 

[Supercyborgninja]

Can say the same for UK Conservative/Labour merry go round each election. All talk a load of crap and can never answer a question straight up with a yes or no answer.

Yep! You guys have a better chance at breaking the gridlock though and I hope you do!

 

[Lioness~]

Ok, this was what the rumors about a new 'lap top' - hum hum - was about. Really hope this speeds up Tim's time on Apple.
Sure he must qualify as the President's 'laptop'.

 

[PowerButton]

Disclaimer for Tim: the pride wallpapers and Apple Watch bands and all the Apple 'inclusive' stuff means nothing if you're financially supporting politicians who openly are against the lgbt community.

And yet Trump picked Richard Grenell and Scott Bessent — both openly gay men.

 

[jz0309]

I cannot believe that he is happy about this or actually gives “from his heart”, but the circumstances are such that it is a smart move on his part.
Popcorn machine will get really really good use the next 4 years…

 

[Killbynumbers]

This makes no sense to me.

 

[PowerButton]

In some non third world countries, we have limitations on political funding and donations.

Quid pro quo happens in every non third world country you just don’t know about it, and sometimes it isn’t monetary.

 

[Rradcircless]

This is nothing more than Bizzare... Trump hates anyone who is Gay or Transgender, for an openly gay man such as Tim Cook to donate to a criminal is BIZZARE what is wrong with america.. i mean really.

Because Cook isn’t gay, he’s elite - and this is a bribe. I’m so grossed out by this though.

 

[CarAnalogy]

This is nothing more than Bizzare... Trump hates anyone who is Gay or Transgender, for an openly gay man such as Tim Cook to donate to a criminal is BIZZARE what is wrong with america.. i mean really.

I don't know where people get this stuff. This is the kind of thing fanning the flames, right here.

This is business. This is what grownups do. Obviously Trump does not "hate anyone who is "gay or transgender" as he is clearly doing business with people who are openly so.

Obviously the Republican party and Trump personally do not make it a front and center issue at all times like the Democrats do. That doesn't mean hate.

Really wish supporters and prominent members of both parties would just show a little more pragmatism. If we can't get anything done because we hate each other over peripheral issues, then that is the true failure of America.

And speaking of pragmatism, why don't we forget all of the above and think about the political system of rich individuals and companies paying the campaign costs of our "elected" leaders. Let's put some of the criticism on the real issues.

Money is speech. Think about the implications of that one.

Edit: wow actually thinking about that one, even taking everything quoted at face value, then why would you not want Cook to give Trump a million dollars? That's how he gets influence for the things he wants, which presumably do in fact align with your stated values on this issue.

 

[Phuz01]

It's so disconcerting to see how the tech giants are all lining up to kiss his ring. We are entering dark and difficult times.

 

[DocMultimedia]

It's so disconcerting to see how the tech giants are all lining up to kiss his ring. We are entering dark and difficult times.

Well summarized. Rough waves ahead.

 

[Kylo83]

Now maga is back we need make Apple great again Tim is a good guy

 

[nfl46]

Awe. Just a million to stay in good grace with Trump. Not bad at all. lol.

 

[CarAnalogy]

All I can think reading this story and all these comments: don't hate the player, hate the game.

No matter what else anyone says about either one of them, they both play it well.

 

[Edgecrusherr]

That’s how the world works, regardless of the government system. Surprised you haven’t realized that yet.

That's specifically how doctraotrships work. That's not how democracies are supposed to work, but yes, they do work like that as well, unfortunately.

 

[BuffyzDead]

Of he course he donated,

...it's based on a college-level, economics-class,
called "Negotiating with a Narcissist: 101"

🤣😅

 

[GtrDude]

Oh great.
Tim Apple is now my man.
Definitely sticking to Apple.