Tim Cook Steps Down from Apple, Trump Brags About Frequent Calls for Help

News of Tim Cook’s resignation from the CEO position at Apple has not only shocked the technology industry but also sparked reactions from various global figures. One of the most bizarre yet effusive responses came from the President of the United States, Donald Trump. Through a post on his social network, Truth Social, on Tuesday (21/4/2026), Trump did not hesitate to lavish the highest praise on Cook. In his characteristically blunt style, Trump even boldly claimed that under Cook’s leadership, Apple is far more successful than it would have been if the late Steve Jobs were still alive and leading the company. Trump revealed the “secret” behind his closeness with the Apple boss, which he said began with a phone call at the start of his first term as president. In his post, Trump recounted the moment when Tim Cook, whom he again addressed with the nickname “Tim Apple”, contacted him directly to request help regarding a “major problem” that only the president could resolve. “When I got that call, I said, ‘Wow, it’s Tim Apple (Cook!) calling, how great is that?’ I was very proud of myself because the Apple boss called to ‘kiss my ass’ to me,” Trump wrote, as quoted by KompasTekno from the Truth Social post. Trump claimed he felt Cook was on the right side at the time, so he moved quickly to resolve the Apple boss’s issue. “After 3 or 4 MAJOR HELPS, I started telling everyone that this man is an extraordinary manager and leader,” Trump continued. Nevertheless, Trump also joked that he did not always comply with Cook’s requests because sometimes they seemed “too aggressive”. Closing his post, Trump affirmed his admiration for the Apple boss’s career track record. “His career is nearly unmatched, Tim Cook is an extraordinary man!!!” After stepping down, Cook will become Executive Chairman. Apple stated that in his new role, Cook will assist with certain aspects of the company, “including interacting with policymakers around the world.” This means Cook will remain Apple’s frontline in dealing with political intrigues at the White House, while John Ternus can fully focus on managing the business and developing Apple’s AI product line.