Only Apple Excluded from Meeting with President, Here is the Reason

Apple’s name was absent from the gathering of US President Donald Trump with tech giants at the White House on Tuesday (29/09/2026). Neither CEO John Ternus nor Tim Cook, who currently serves as Apple’s Chairman, were present at the meeting.

The meeting focused on the subject of AI, which may also be the reason the iPhone maker was not in attendance. According to reports from CNBC International based on social media speculation, Apple was not invited because it has fallen behind in the AI race.

Nevertheless, Brad Gerstner, CEO of Altimeter Capital, stated that Apple’s absence is not significant. “I can assure you, they understand all of this, and I agree with all of it,” said Gerstner, as quoted on Thursday (01/10/2026).

He noted that the companies in attendance are the ones pushing the boundaries of model development.

Neither Apple nor the White House responded to enquiries regarding the speculation.

Through Tim Cook, Apple continues to strive to maintain good relations with Trump, including appearing publicly at several events attended by the President, such as inaugurations and state dinners.

Meanwhile, Apple is primarily a consumer-facing company, whereas much of the leading-edge AI competition is currently taking place within enterprise-focused environments.