Cook Announces Stepping Down as Apple CEO: Reactions from Trump, Buffett, Altman, and Others
Apple announced on Monday that CEO Tim Cook will be succeeded by John Ternus. Following the announcement, executives from the tech industry and other fields quickly shared their views on the personnel change. Cook has led the iPhone maker for nearly 15 years since the passing of founder Steve Jobs in 2011.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump posted on his “Truth Social” platform on Tuesday morning, praising Cook’s tenure and stating, “Tim called me very early in my first term.”
“Tim Cook has had an incredible career, almost unmatched. He will continue to create great things for Apple, and for whatever other ventures he chooses to pursue. Simply put, Tim Cook is a great person!” Trump wrote.
Trump again praised Cook on Tuesday morning Eastern Time.
“I know him very well,” Trump said, “He’s a very good man, and his work performance is impeccable.”
“Tim Cook is a legend,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman posted on X, “I’m incredibly grateful for everything he’s done, and for Apple.”
Apple and OpenAI first collaborated in 2024, integrating ChatGPT into Siri and Apple’s writing tools.
Oculus VR founder Palmer Luckey also posted on X, writing “Tim Apple, farewell,” alluding to Trump’s famous gaffe at the White House in 2019.
Trump mistakenly referred to Cook as “Tim Apple” during his first term. Cook took it in stride, even replacing his last name on his Twitter profile with the Apple logo.
Luckey left Meta in 2017 and founded defense technology company Anduril the same year.
Warren Buffett stated, “There would be no Apple today without Tim Cook.”
“What he’s done for Apple is something that no one else I know could have done,” Buffett said. Apple is the highest-valued stock held by Berkshire Hathaway.
“His business spans the globe, able to deal kindly with countries of all histories, always treating customers, employees, and of course, us shareholders, well… he’s unique,” Buffett said.
Ternus, currently Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, will officially assume the role of CEO on September 1st. At that time, Cook will serve as Executive Chairman.