Tim Cook Discusses Deescalation with Trump in Productive Meeting

Apple’s CEO Tim Cook has addressed the recent events in Minneapolis, where federal agents shot and killed a protester, expressing his thoughts to employees and mentioning a conversation with President Trump. In a memo, Cook emphasized the need for deescalation during these turbulent times.

Cook, along with other tech leaders, attended a VIP screening of a documentary shortly after the incident, which led to renewed scrutiny of his ties with Trump, a relationship he has cultivated through donations and various gestures aimed at maintaining a favorable standing with the administration.

Here’s the full text of the memo:

> Team,
> I’m heartbroken by the events in Minneapolis, and my prayers and deepest sympathies are with the families, with the communities, and with everyone that’s been affected.
> This is a time for deescalation. I believe America is strongest when we live up to our highest ideals, when we treat everyone with dignity and respect no matter who they are or where they’re from, and when we embrace our shared humanity. This is something Apple has always advocated for. I had a good conversation with the president this week where I shared my views, and I appreciate his openness to engaging on issues that matter to us all.
> I know this is very emotional and challenging for so many. I am proud of how deeply our teams care about the world beyond our walls. That empathy is one of Apple’s greatest strengths and it is something I believe we all cherish.
> Thank you for all that you do.
> Tim

Cook is among several executives voicing concerns over the strict immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota, joining figures like OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Anthropic’s Dario Amodei. Over 60 CEOs from major Minnesota companies have also called for an immediate reduction in tensions in the state.

Notably, Cook has previously taken a strong stance on issues like environmental and accessibility policies, famously telling climate change skeptics to sell their Apple shares if they only cared about returns on investment. However, he has recently appeared more willing to align with Trump’s agenda to protect Apple’s financial interests.

As tech journalist Om Malik pointed out, “[Silicon Valley] used to believe it could change the world. Now it just hopes the world won’t change its stock price.”