Apple CEO's Commitment to Significant US Investment as Trump Takes Office

On Monday, Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States, and several leading figures from the technology world were present for the occasion. Prominent CEOs including Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai, and Elon Musk attended the ceremony, signaling the interest and involvement of major tech companies in the new administration.

Among these industry giants was Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple. Reports indicate that Cook had a conversation with Trump the day before the inauguration. During Trump's victory rally, he made a suggestion that Apple might make a substantial investment in the United States as a result of his election win.

Trump stated, “I spoke with Tim Cook of Apple. He said they’re going to make a massive investment in the United States because of our big election win,” according to the New York Post. However, the specifics of this proposed investment remain unclear.

Before the elections, Cook reportedly reached out to Trump to discuss various issues, including ongoing legal matters faced by Apple, such as the penalties the company encountered in Europe. Last year, Apple lost a significant legal battle in the EU regarding a €13 billion (around A$21.55 billion) tax bill related to its operations in Ireland.

Other technology companies are also taking steps that seem to align with the priorities of the incoming Trump administration. For instance, Zuckerberg announced that Meta would eliminate fact-checkers, significantly reduce censorship, and promote more political content across its platforms, which include Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. This move comes after Trump had previously criticized tech companies for allegedly censoring him.

In addition, both Meta and Amazon have begun to retract their diversity initiatives concerning hiring and supplier selection. They cite potential legal challenges to some of their policies as a motivating factor for these changes. In a communication to staff, Meta referenced a changing legal environment and asserted that any form of discrimination based on inherent characteristics should not be accepted or encouraged.

Apple, Investment, Trump