PoliticsTim Cook’s legacy isn’t just phones, it’s politics

Tim Cook’s 15-year tenure as Apple CEO was defined by a highly calculated balancing act between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump. He protected Apple’s China-centered supply chain and growth while facing scrutiny over forced labor, censorship, data privacy and working conditions, and used White House diplomacy to reduce the impact of tariffs during the US-China trade war.

Tim CookAppleUS-China relationstech politics

TThe Verge★★★☆☆2026-09-01 13:51Original