Apple's 50th Anniversary: CEO Tim Cook Reveals Sad Fact
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Apple CEO Tim Cook delivered a touching comment to mark the iPhone maker’s 50th anniversary. He reminisced about his predecessor Steve Jobs and offered much praise.
Cook has been in Apple’s leadership position since 2011, following Jobs’ death in the same year. In commemorating the company’s half-century milestone, Cook remains in mourning over Jobs’ passing and explained the founder’s important principles.
“I think about him often, and in the past few months, especially while marking the 50th anniversary, I’ve thought about him even more. You think about the things he believed in. He believed in simple things, not complex ones. He believed in collaboration; if you bring together a small group of people, the work of that small group will be far greater than that of any individual among them,” he explained, quoted from 9to5mac, Thursday (2/4/2026).
He also referred to Apple as Jobs’ company. Even after stepping down as CEO, Jobs would remain Apple’s executive chairman forever.
“If you look back, I know someone might say, how could you think like that given the circumstances?” Cook said.
In the 50th anniversary commemoration of Apple, Cook also touched on the company’s relationship with the United States government, now led by Donald Trump.
One difference from other presidencies is that, according to Cook, the Trump administration is very accessible.
The 65-year-old man also said the Trump administration allows him to continue speaking. The voices of the people are ensured to be heard.
“So you can talk to them about your perspective on various things. They might not agree, but you can engage. Your voice can be heard. In the end, you might not be able to convince them,” Cook said.
Furthermore, he emphasised Apple’s involvement worldwide, not just in the US, as very important. Even with differing viewpoints, according to him, the only way to understand each other is through communication and sitting down together.
“Every country has its own story. Everyone views things differently. And the only way to understand that is by sitting in front of someone and communicating, and engaging,” he added.