Apple isn't losing its Trump whisperer

• Apple CEO Tim Cook is stepping down as CEO in September.
• He won't be going far. He'll remain as executive chairman of the Apple board of directors.
• Cook has put on a masterclass in managing Apple's relationship with President Donald Trump.

President Donald Trump's next "Tim Apple" isn't falling far from the tree.

On Monday, Apple announced long-expected but still seismic succession plans: CEO Tim Cook is stepping down, and in his place, John Ternus, senior vice president of hardware engineering, will lead the tech giant starting on September 1.

Cook, the man Trump unintentionally called "Tim Apple" in 2019, will become executive chairman of Apple's board of directors — a role that includes "engaging with policymakers around the world," the tech company said.

He's had plenty of experience with that, particularly in an increasingly mercurial Washington, where a tech company can go from a vital partner to a national security threat in a matter of weeks (just ask Anthropic).

Under Cook's leadership, Apple has lavished Trump with gifts, including a special inscribed piece of glass with 24-karat gold base and a custom-made $5,999 Mac Pro. Cook personally donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration, and Apple donated an unknown amount toward the construction of the White House ballroom, which will replace the now-demolished East Wing.

When needed, Cook has also handed Trump major announcements, including an additional $100 billion investment in US manufacturing.

"Today's announcement is one of the largest commitments in what has become among the greatest investment booms in our nation's history," Trump said in August 2025 when Cook presented him with the plaque and the news of the additional investment.

In the meantime, Apple has continued to manufacture iPhones overseas — despite occasional Trump threats to curtail the practice — and has secured major tariff exemptions.

It doesn't mean there haven't been dust-ups. In May 2025, Trump said he told Cook he didn't want Apple building products in India.

"I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday," Trump said at the time. "I said to him, 'My friend, I treated you very good. You're coming here with $500 billion, but now I hear you're building all over India."

Ternus doesn't appear to have the same type of political background. According to federal campaign finance records, Ternus' largest donation appears to be the $5,800 he gave to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's campaign in 2021.

Cook has also maintained a presence around the White House, from Trump's second inauguration to the recent premiere of the Melania documentary. Cook has faced some backlash for his relationship with Trump, but he says he's neutral.

"What I do is I interact on policy, not politics," Cook said in March. "I focus on policy, so I'm very pleased that the president and the administration is accessible to talk about policy."

Steve Jobs believed that everything needed to flow from the customer experience. Apple can continue to rely on Cook's knowledge of a very important customer.