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Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump recently shared that he received a phone call from Apple CEO Tim Cook, who expressed concerns about the hefty financial penalties imposed on the tech giant by the European Union. This revelation came during a conversation Trump had with podcaster Patrick Bet-David, which was released on Thursday. 

According to Trump, Cook contacted him regarding the financial challenges Apple faces due to EU regulatory actions. "Two hours ago, three hours ago, he (Cook) called me," Trump said during the interview. He further explained the details of the conversation, stating, "He said the European Union has just fined us $15 billion. … Then on top of that, they got fined by the European Union another $2 billion." This reference points to the mounting pressure on Apple and other Big Tech companies from European regulators. 

 

The European Union has been increasing its scrutiny of large tech corporations, investigating their practices and imposing significant penalties in order to promote fair competition. Last month, Apple lost a court case with the EU, forcing the company to pay 13 billion euros (approximately $14.08 billion) in back taxes to Ireland. The case was part of a broader initiative by the EU to rein in tech companies and ensure smaller competitors can thrive in the market. Additionally, earlier this year, Apple was fined $2 billion by the EU for antitrust violations. This fine stemmed from accusations that Apple restricted competition in the music streaming industry by enforcing certain rules on its App Store.

 

Trump, recounting his conversation with Cook, implied that resolving these issues would require him to win the upcoming election. “Tim, I got to get elected first. … But I’m not going to let them take advantage of our companies. That won’t be happening,” Trump quoted himself as saying to the Apple CEO. The nearly 90-minute podcast featured Trump discussing various topics, but his remarks about Cook’s concerns highlighted the ongoing tensions between U.S. tech giants and European regulators.

 

Apple has yet to confirm the authenticity of the phone call between Cook and Trump, and no statement has been released by the company in response to the matter. However, the growing focus on Big Tech by the EU continues to shape the landscape of international business and politics, with Apple being one of the key players affected by these regulatory measures.

 

Based on a report from Reuters 2024-10-19

 

 

 

[NickyLouie]

good F tim cook and Apple