The interview, which was published Tuesday, took place at Mar-a-Lago in late June, before the debate that was a disaster for his opponent, President Joe Biden, and before Trump survived an assassination attempt.
During the interview, Trump recounted an interaction he had with Cook back in 2019, when Trump announced tariffs of 25% on imports from China.
After Bloomberg reported that Apple asked for a waiver for parts made in China that were used in Mac Pro computers, Trump publicly dismissed the idea.
“Apple will not be given Tariff wavers, or relief, for Mac Pro parts that are made in China,” Trump said in a Twitter, now X, post. “Make them in the USA, no Tariffs!”
In the recent interview with Bloomberg, Trump said he backed down after Cook reached out to him directly to meet. Trump said it was “impressive” and that he told him to come meet him.
“He said to me, ‘I need help, you have tariffs of 25% and 50% [on Apple products imported from China],'” Trump remembered, according to Bloomberg. “He said, ‘It would really hurt our business. It would destroy our business, potentially.'”
Trump said that he countered Cook by pressing Apple to manufacture in the US.
“I said, ‘I’m gonna do something for you guys,'” Trump said, “‘but you have to build in this country.'”
Representatives for Trump and Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.
Months later Apple announced it would begin construction on an Austin campus, though Bloomberg noted plans to build the campus were announced a year earlier, and it’s unlikely Trump was responsible for getting it built.
Cook later gifted Trump a $6,000 Mac Pro.
While they maintained a good working relationship during the Trump presidency, it hasn’t been all love between the two billionaires. Cook appeared to distance himself following the January 6 Capitol riot. He called the riot “sad and shameful” and said he thought those responsible needed to be held accountable.
Still, Trump has previously called Cook a “great executive because he calls me and others don’t” when there is a problem.
“Others go out and hire very expensive consultants,” Trump said in 2019, CNBC reported. “Tim Cook calls Donald Trump directly.”
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