Here’s the scoop: Before President Trump’s recent Middle East trip, the White House invited several top US business leaders to join, including Apple CEO Tim Cook. But Cook declined, and sources say that upset Trump. During the trip, which covered Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar, Trump publicly called out Cook’s absence.
At an event in Riyadh, Trump thanked Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang for coming, then pointedly noted, “Tim Cook isn’t here,” signaling disappointment. Later in Qatar, Trump said he had “a little problem with Tim Cook,” expressing frustration over Apple shifting more of its production to India instead of keeping it in the US.
Trump then surprised many by tweeting about possibly imposing a 25% tax on iPhones made outside the US—a move that risked undoing a recent deal Cook secured to avoid extra tariffs on iPhones made in China.
Meanwhile, Apple is doubling down on India. Foxconn, Apple’s key manufacturing partner, is setting up a $1.5 billion factory near Chennai to produce iPhone parts like display modules. With India being the world’s second-largest smartphone market, Apple plans to ramp up local production there.
Trump’s publicly opposing this expansion reflects a broader political tension, emphasizing his push for more US-based manufacturing. Tim Cook, who once had a relatively smooth rapport with Trump and was seen as a calming influence between Apple and the administration, now appears caught in a political crossfire.
Neither Apple nor the White House have commented on Cook’s decision to skip the trip or the subsequent fallout, but the situation highlights how business decisions and geopolitics are increasingly intertwined.
