Trump praises Tim Cook after exit announcement, says Apple thrived more under him than Steve Jobs
Babushahi Bureau
Washington, DC (US), April 21, 2026: US President Donald J. Trump has described Tim Cook as an “incredible” leader, hours after reports emerged that the Apple chief is set to step down later this year.
In a lengthy post on his platform Truth Social, Trump reflected on his personal interactions with Cook, claiming the two shared a productive relationship during his first term in office. The President recounted an early phone call from Cook regarding what he described as a “major issue” that required government intervention.
Trump said he resolved the matter “quickly and effectively,” adding that it marked the beginning of continued communication between the two, with Cook reaching out occasionally for assistance on key concerns.
“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. 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 ass.” Anyway, he explained his problem, a tough one it was, I felt he was right and got it taken care of, quickly and effectively. That was the beginning of a long and very nice relationship. During my five years as President, Tim would call me, but never too much, and I would help him where I could. Years latter, 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. Anyway, 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!!!,” posted by Donald Trump.
The President also made a striking comparison between Cook and late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, suggesting that while Jobs was a visionary, Apple may not have achieved the same level of success under his leadership as it did with Cook at the helm.
Calling Cook’s tenure “almost incomparable,” Trump credited him with steering the company through major global shifts, while also highlighting his own role in supporting the tech giant during critical moments.
Cook, who has led Apple Inc. since 2011, is expected to step down later this year, bringing to a close a leadership period marked by massive growth and expansion. He is likely to be succeeded by senior executive John Ternus, currently serving as Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering.
Cook’s departure comes at a time when Apple, like much of the tech industry, is navigating rapid changes driven by artificial intelligence and evolving global markets.