Tim Cook appeals to Trump's love of gold with a 24-karat base for Apple plaque

[riversedge]

Source: USA Today


August 7, 2025 12:22 p.m. ET


Apple CEO Tim Cook presented Donald Trump with a custom-made gift highlighting American manufacturing when visiting the White House.
The gift, a custom glass plaque with a gold base, aligned with Trump's "America First" policies and his love of gold.
Apple announced $100 billion in new U.S. investments.

Apple CEO Tim Cook presented Donald Trump with a custom-made gift highlighting American manufacturing when visiting the White House.
The gift, a custom glass plaque with a gold base, aligned with Trump's "America First" policies and his love of gold.
Apple announced $100 billion in new U.S. investments.


Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/08/07/tim-cook-trump-gift/85555805007/

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I just call it a suck up plaque!!

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[BidenRocks]

1. Never Apple!

[cadoman]

8. adding Apple to the list of "do not buy" after this

Will be good for the upcoming economic protest.

[CincyDem]

2. All I can think about is the Gold Telephone AT&T gave Batista in Godfather 2. lol

[mdbl]

18. It was IT&T but that's just nitpicking.

[CincyDem]

25. To those who know (and care), nothing about getting any Godfather details right is "nitpicking".

[underpants]

3. I think he slighted Trump. It looks like 1/2 a bar of soap.

He stinky.

[LiberalArkie]

4. Tim Cook has to go.. In no way has he ever symbolized Apple. I think of him as the West Coast Jack Welch.

[BidenRocks]

16. You mean Tim Apple, right?

[FakeNoose]

5. How do the kneepads fit, Tim?

[AllaN01Bear]

6. i will be looking @ installing linux machines and never going back to apple again.

[usonian]

7. Oh you people with short memory. It's a "THING"

Russia gifted the U.S. Embassy with a beautiful plaque.



It was given the name "The Thing" when, 7 years later, it was discovered to be a listening device.



Invented by the great scientist Leon Theremin (inventor of the Theremin musical instrument)

Here's the story of the device.

https://hackaday.com/2015/12/08/theremins-bug/

Theremin’s Bug: How The Soviet Union Spied On The US Embassy For 7 Years

Technical.
https://www.cryptomuseum.com/covert/bugs/thing/index.htm
Very advanced technology for Nineteen Freaking Forty Five!!!

Imagine what technology Apple put into the trinket, or, one might say "The Thing".

How smart is Trump and his bunch of ideologue ass-kissing Troglodyte lackeys?
Try ZERO.

Happy listening, Apple.

[twodogsbarking]

9. Don't tell El Trumpo.

[ancianita]

12. I sure hope you're right. Apple might be the company that could pull this off.

[usonian]

14. Here's the good thing. Even if it isn't, my post will spread over the internet, and the jerk is so paranoid, he'll freak

more

Paranoia is its own reward!!

[BidenRocks]

17. Remember the exploding phones in the M.E.?

Just sayin', chumpie!

Stress out and die!

[usonian]

19. Let him watch the Twilight Zone episode "The Jeopardy Room" with Martin Landau

A Thriller! No spoilers.
It's great.
April 17, 1964.

[BidenRocks]

23. I watched it first run.

An excellent episode.

[Mr. Evil]

10. Glad I never had an Apple iPhone

or used anything Apple, ever. And this disgraceful groveling is the best example of why I never will.

[ancianita]

11. Used to be a time when bribes were under the table behind closed doors. Now corporate ceremonially ass kisses the felon.

That there is a menaceocracy.

[Marie Marie]

13. ...

[Buddyzbuddy]

15. So close, sooo close to giving the Felon a solid gold phone

Ala GODFATHER II. The telephone company giving El Presidente de Cuba said solid gold phone, just before he was run out of the Country by the rebels led by Castro.

[LudwigPastorius]

21. Sure, give King WideAss his gold. (it's probably gold plated)

If it keeps his grubby hands off Apple's DEI policies, I'm all for it.

[dlk]

22. Cook is reading the room and doing what it takes to protect Apple

Do I agree with it, no. However, I understand what Cook is doing to survive in these unprecedented, and treacherous times. Ultimately, with a break on tariffs, consumers will get a break on prices, as well.

[fujiyamasan]

24. This is just about business

Apple got screwed over on the India tariff situation, after investing a lot over there. And if the semiconductor tariff goes through, that’s going to make it very expensive for them as well.

His ultimate loyalty is going to be to the shareholders. If kissing Trump’s gigantic ass makes it a little easier to keep up their margins, that’s a win as far as he and the board are concerned.

[CincyDem]

27. Yep. And in return for his loyalty on margins, 97% of shareholders voted to support Apple's DEI programs.

Win-win.

[Auggie]

35. +1. BTW ...

what choice does one have when they loathe Microsoft? Apple products, while insanely expensive, always work well for me.

[CincyDem]

26. So he gave Trumpy a couple/ten grand in gold with a logo on it. BFD.

He also said this in the face of WH pressure on DEI programs. What some may call pandering, I call it doing the superficial shit it takes to run a business while sticking to core principles. One of the stronger corporate DEI statements around at a time when most companies were going slash and burn.

Just something to consider before we throw him under the bus for “getting down on his knees” to Trump …a slur that’s about as non-DEI as it gets, especially when directed at a gay man.

“As the legal landscape around this issue evolves, we may need to make some changes to comply, but our north star of dignity and respect for everyone and our work to that end will never waver.”

[ancianita]

32. Well said. Thank you.

I'll always prefer Apple products, which offer greater personal security than any other brand of phone, hardware, or OS. I gave up PC's in 2007 and have never looked back.

The ongoing security problems our govt has are the result of its mentality of ongoing purchasing of PC systems.

[Irish_Dem]

28. I have never seen such widespread ass kissing in my life.

It is disgusting and nauseating to watch.

Damn the American people for falling for Trump's BS.

[gordianot]

29. I would not be surprised to wake up someday and find out that Donald Trump has painted some woman gold.

Maybe Melania should be worried.

[SeattleVet]

30. Colbert nailed it...

[Ray Bruns]

33. Tim Cook in action

[tanyev]

34. Trump: "The Apple has not always been so good but now Trump likes Tim Apple."

Not an actual quote. As far as I know.

[Boomerproud]

36. A big wet one eh?

[nilram]

37. Beautifully designed ass kiss.

Leaves a stain you can never wash off, Tim.