By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed that Apple CEO Tim Cook once called him “to kiss my a*s” as he reflected on his relationship with the Apple chief, who is stepping down as CEO later this year.
Trump’s post followed an announcement by Apple that its CEO Tim Cook will step down later this year, with VP John Ternus set to take over the role.
Trump social media post hailed Cook’s leadership and his role in taking Apple to new heights, he said, “I have always been a big fan of Tim Cook, and likewise, Steve Jobs, but if Steve was not taken from the Planet Earth so young, and ran the company instead of Tim, the company would have done well, but nowhere near as well as it has under Tim.”
He recalled the beginning of his relationship with the Apple CEO, Trump said that it started with a phone call from Cook during his first term as the US President and boasted about how he helped the top tech executive by fixing a “fairly large problem”.
“For me it began with a phone call from Tim at the beginning of my First Term. He had a fairly large problem that only I, as President, could fix. Most people would have paid millions of dollars to a consultant, who I probably would not have known, but who would say that he knew me well. The fees would be paid but the job would not have gotten done. When I got the call I said, wow, it’s Tim Apple (Cook!) calling, how big is that? I was very impressed with myself to have the head of Apple calling to “kiss my a*s,” Trump said.
He continued: “During my five years as President, Tim would call me, but never too much, and I would help him where I could. Years later, after 3 or 4 BIG HELPS, I started to say to people, anyone who would listen, that this guy is an amazing manager and leader. He makes these calls to me, I help him out (but not always, because he will, on occasion, be too aggressive in his ask!), and he gets the job done, QUICKLY, without a dime being given to those very expensive (millions of dollars!) consultants around town who sometimes get it done, and sometimes don’t.”
Trump added, Cook had an “AMAZING” career and called him an “incredible guy”, who would do “great” whatever he chooses to do.
“Tim Cook had an AMAZING career, almost incomparable, and will go on and continue to do great work for Apple, and whatever else he chooses to work on. Quite simply, Tim Cook is an incredible guy!!!” the US President concluded.
Trump’s post followed an announcement by Apple that its CEO Tim Cook will step down later this year, with VP John Ternus set to take over the role.
Cook has been leading Apple since 2011 after the resignation of co-founder Steve Jobs.
He said that it has been his “greatest privilege” that he was “trusted to lead such an extraordinary company.”
