Apple CEO Slammed for Gifting Trump Gold and Dodging Tariffs

At a White House press event on August 6, Apple CEO Tim Cook astonished many by presenting President Donald Trump with a distinctive gift: an engraved piece of Apple glass affixed to an opulent 24-karat gold base. During their encounter in the Oval Office, Cook warmly congratulated Trump, emphasizing that the item, crafted by a former Marine Corps corporal employed at Apple, was “a unique unit of one.”As Apple announced a staggering $100 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing facilities, this gesture occurred just before Trump's tariffs went into effect on August 7, significantly affecting numerous countries and targeting the semiconductor industry. In contrast to competitors scrambling to navigate these changes, Apple secured tariff exemptions on crucial components, benefitting from its manufacturing strategy.Despite facing some criticism and calls to shift to Android, with detractors expressing disappointment and likening the gift to sycophantic behavior, others interpreted it as a strategic maneuver as Apple prepares for the upcoming iPhone 17 release. (Image: Wikipedia Commons)