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Apple announced long-expected succession plans on Monday, naming John Ternus, senior vice president of hardware engineering, as its next chief executive. Tim Cook will step down as CEO and become executive chairman of the board, effective September 1.
Apple said Cook will take on the executive chairman role, which includes “engaging with policymakers around the world.” Cook will continue to work with the company’s leadership during the transition.
Under Cook’s leadership, Apple has maintained close engagement with the U.S. administration. The article notes that Cook has provided Trump with gifts, including an inscribed piece of glass with a 24-karat gold base and a custom-made $5,999 Mac Pro. It also cites Cook’s personal donation of $1 million to Trump’s inauguration and an unspecified Apple contribution toward the construction of a White House ballroom to replace the demolished East Wing.
The article also points to major announcements associated with Cook and the administration, including an additional $100 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing. It quotes Trump from August 2025, saying the announcement was among the “largest commitments” in the country’s investment boom.
Despite occasional threats from Trump to curtail overseas iPhone production, the article says Apple has continued manufacturing iPhones abroad and has secured major tariff exemptions.
It also describes disputes involving Apple’s international footprint. In May 2025, Trump said he told Cook he did not want Apple building products in India, adding that Cook was “coming here with $500 billion” while Trump said he heard Apple was building “all over India.”
The article says Ternus does not appear to have the same type of political background as Cook. According to federal campaign finance records cited in the piece, Ternus’ largest donation appears to be $5,800 given in 2021 to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s campaign.
The article notes Cook has maintained a presence around the White House, including from Trump’s second inauguration and the premiere of the Melania documentary. It also includes Cook’s comments from March, in which he said he focuses on policy rather than politics, stating: “What I do is I interact on policy, not politics. I focus on policy, so I’m very pleased that the president and the administration is accessible to talk about policy.”
The article concludes by referencing Steve Jobs’ belief that everything should flow from the customer experience, adding that Apple can continue to rely on Cook’s knowledge of a “very important customer.”
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