UK3 min(s) read
Published 13:54 21 Apr 2026 GMT
They say to never speak ill of the dead, but Donald Trump may have missed that memo.
The US President took to Truth Social early this morning (April 21) to react to news that Apple CEO Tim Cook will be stepping down in September.
After 15 years at the helm, Cook will be assuming the role of Apple Executive Chairman, while John Ternus has been named the tech company's new Chief Executive.
He said in a press release that leading the company has "been the greatest privilege of my life," adding that Ternus has the "soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor."
These words of praise will give Apple users hope for the future, though Trump has also made sure to give his two cents on the passing of the iTorch.
While the President showed gratitude to Cook, he bizarrely took aim at former Apple CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs, who passed away in 2011 after a health battle.
Taking to social media, Trump wrote: "I have always been a big fan of Tim Cook, and likewise, Steve Jobs, but if Steve was not taken from the Planet Earth so young, and ran the company instead of Tim, the company would have done well, but nowhere near as well as it has under Tim.
"For me it began with a phone call from Tim at the beginning of my First Term.
"He had a fairly large problem that only I, as President, could fix. Most people would have paid millions of dollars to a consultant, who I probably would not have known, but who would say that he knew me well.
"The fees would be paid but the job would not have gotten done."
He claimed that he "was very impressed with myself to have the head of Apple calling to 'kiss my ass'."
Trump claimed that while he had been President, Cook would call him here and there, asking for help.
"Years later, after 3 or 4 BIG HELPS, I started to say to people, anyone who would listen, that this guy is an amazing manager and leader," he wrote.
The 79-year-old added: "He makes these calls to me, I help him out (but not always, because he will, on occasion, be too aggressive in his ask!), and he gets the job done, QUICKLY, without a dime being given to those very expensive (millions of dollars!) consultants around town who sometimes get it done, and sometimes don’t."
He concluded by saying the CEO had an "AMAZING career," and described Cook as "an incredible guy."
John Ternus is the current head of hardware engineering, who has been at Apple for 25 years.
He will take over the reins on 1 September, becoming just the second CEO at Apple since Jobs resigned for health reasons.
Cook stated that he will help Ternus transition into the role over the summer as he will "assist with certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world".
Speaking more about his successor, Cook added: “He is a visionary whose contributions to Apple over 25 years are already too numerous to count, and he is without question the right person to lead Apple into the future.
"I could not be more confident in his abilities and his character, and I look forward to working closely with him on this transition and in my new role as executive chairman.”
