When most people retire, they get some well-wishes from their immediate colleagues, and perhaps some brief press coverage if they’ve had an outsize influence in their industry.
But if you’re Apple CEO Tim Cook, you get a public message from the president of the United States. The problem is, it’s not the most flattering message you could ask for.
Trump wishes Cook well in his very Trumpian way
Last night, Apple announced that Cook, its CEO for 15 years, will step down from the chief executive role and be succeeded by John Ternus. The announcement was greeted with acceptance by Apple shareholders and gratitude for Cook’s accomplishments from some of the biggest names in tech.
But then there was President Trump, with whom Tim Cook has a long and storied relationship.
Taking to his Truth Social social media network, Trump this morning posted a long message about Apple’s CEO. And while the overall tone is obviously good-natured, the president put his own unique style on his felicitations, which may cause Cook some embarrassment.
We’ve reached out to Apple for comment on the post.
Trump says Cook outshined Steve Jobs
First, the president handed Cook what is probably the best compliment the outgoing Apple CEO could ever get: that Apple has done better under his leadership than it would have done had Steve Jobs not passed away.
“I have always been a big fan of Tim Cook, and likewise, Steve Jobs,” the president began. “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.”
While I actually agree with the sentiment that Cook has taken Apple to levels Jobs never achieved, it’s unlikely that Cook would openly agree with the president’s assertion that he was a better steward of Apple than Jobs, who stepped down as CEO in 2011 and died later that year.
Trump also says Cook kissed his ass
From there, Trump reminisced about the first time he interacted with Apple’s outgoing CEO. “For me, it began with a phone call from Tim at the beginning of my first term,” Trump wrote. “He had a fairly large problem that only I, as president, could fix.”
“When I got the call, I said, wow, it’s Tim Apple (Cook!) calling, how big is that?” Trump continued, adding, “I was very impressed with myself to have the head of Apple calling to ‘kiss my ass.’”
That description is likely not how Cook would want their interactions phrased. Indeed, Cook has long been criticized for his cozy relationship with the controversial president.
“That was the beginning of a long and very nice relationship,” Trump added.
Trump says Cook can be too aggressive sometimes
In his post, Trump then goes on to explain that during his terms as president, Cook would call him (“but never too much”), and the president “would help him where I could.”
However, the president seemed to take issue with Cook’s apparent aggressiveness when he wanted something.
“He makes these calls to me, I help him out (but not always, because he will, on occasion, be too aggressive in his ask!),” the president wrote.
Trump also noted that he assisted Cook with “3 or 4 BIG HELPS” over the years, without elaboration on what those helps were.
Trump is clearly very fond of Cook
Despite his characteristically rambling statement, Trump is clearly very fond of Apple’s outgoing CEO.
In his post, Trump said that he would praise Cook at every opportunity. “I started to say to people, anyone who would listen, that this guy is an amazing manager and leader,” the president wrote.
Trump ended his post by exclaiming that “Tim Cook had an AMAZING career, almost incomparable, and will go on and continue to do great work for Apple, and whatever else he chooses to work on. Quite simply, Tim Cook is an incredible guy!!!”
Of course, as Fast Company reported earlier today, Trump can expect to hear from Cook in an official capacity even after he steps down from the CEO role on September 1. This is because Cook will stay on at Apple as executive chairman.
That role will see Cook “engaging with policymakers around the world” on behalf of the company.