Tim Cook gifted Trump Corning glass with 24-karat gold base amid $600B commitment to US

WASHINGTON, DC: While US President Donald Trump continues to threaten tariffs, Apple CEO Tim Cook reaffirmed the company’s “America First” strategy by announcing a $100 billion new investment in US manufacturing.

This boost brings Apple’s total US investment to $600 billion over the next four years. During their Oval Office meeting on August 6, Cook also presented Trump with a specially crafted glass and gold plaque made in the USA. The internet is calling Cook’s declaration a “bend the knee to Trump” as he tries to avoid the president’s tariffs on imports that would raise the cost of Apple electronics.

Tim Cook presents a golden gift to Donald Trump

On Wednesday, August 6, Tim Cook and Trump doubled down on their commitment to American manufacturing during a meeting in the Oval Office. Cook presented Trump with an engraved glass plaque mounted on a 24-karat gold base from Utah. 

He explained that the gift was designed by a former Marine Corps corporal who now works at Apple. The one-of-a-kind US-made glass piece was inscribed with, "President Donald Trump Apple American Manufacturing Program, Tim Cook's signature, Made in USA, 2025."

Promising continued investments and job creation in the US, Cook praised Trump as “a great advocate for American innovation and manufacturing.” According to Apple’s latest press release, Cook announced that the company will increase its investment in the US to $600 billion over four years and launch a new American Manufacturing Program. 

The release continued, "This includes new and expanded work with 10 companies across America. They produce components that are used in Apple products sold all over the world, and we’re grateful to the President for his support."

The deal, shaped under pressure from Trump, also drew a firm response from the President. Standing alongside Cook, Trump confirmed plans to impose a roughly 100% tariff on imported chips and semiconductors but promised “no charge” relief for those manufactured within the US.

Apple ramps up US investment with new manufacturing partnerships

Apple plans to invest $600 billion in the US by partnering with thousands of suppliers across all 50 states. Through its American Manufacturing Program, the company will support more than 450,000 supplier and partner jobs nationwide.

Over the next four years, Apple intends to directly hire 20,000 people in the US, focusing mainly on roles in research and development, silicon engineering, software development, and artificial intelligence and machine learning.

According to Apple’s recent press release, the US silicon supply chain is set to produce over 19 billion chips for Apple products by 2025. The company’s first partners in the American Manufacturing Program include Corning, Coherent, GlobalWafers America (GWA), Applied Materials, Texas Instruments (TI), Samsung, GlobalFoundries, Amkor, and Broadcom.

These partners will help Apple strengthen its ongoing commitment to using American-made rare earth magnets in its products.

Internet divided over Tim Cook’s gift to Trump amid $600 billion commitment

While Trump announced Tim Cook’s $600 billion commitment to the US over the next four years, the reaction on social media was mixed; many critics disapproved of Cook’s Oval Office gesture. On the platform X, users voiced disappointment with the development. 

One wrote, “A tribute a day keeps the mad king away! Tim Cook of Apple bends the knee to Trump. Another elite showing their true cowardice.” 

Another commented, “Apple CEO Tim Cook gifts Donald Trump a custom gold Apple product, this is also known as a bribe in exchange for preferential treatment & likely federal contracts.” 

A third user expressed frustration, “I am Apple through and through but seeing Tim Cook next to Trump spewing his tariff bollocks really makes me want to change. How can an intelligent man like Tim Cook not realise how bad Trump is for the world. This just makes me hate the US protectionism even more.”

Another said, "Bribery out in the open."

One commenter suggested, "Tim Cook just gifted Trump a glass sculpture sitting on 24k gold after pledging $600B to the US… bro that’s not a gift, that’s a power play."

A Facebook commenter said, "Trump is the easiest person in the world to deal with all you've got to do is make him feel special and bribe him with some shiny gold bauble, deal done."

Another expressed disappointment, "Quickly losing my interest in apple with this whole bending of the knee."

Some sympathized with Cook, saying, “I cannot blame Tim Cook for this tbh. Trump can just decide to spontaneously tariff Apple out of existence, and he knows the easiest way to get him not to is to give him a shiny object.” 

Another added, “It’s very interesting to see how easy it is for Apple to bring manufacturing jobs back to America once President Trump’s tariffs properly motivated them.”

This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.