Trump Recalls ‘Kiss My A**’ Call From Tim Cook, Praises Apple CEO Ahead of Exit

United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday described himself as a fan of Tim Cook, hours after the Apple chief announced he would step down from his role later this year.

In a Truth Social post that drew attention, Trump recalled that Cook had once called him during his first term to “kiss my a**”.

The post, which largely focused on Trump’s own role, also included praise for Cook, whom he described as an “incredible guy”, while crediting his own leadership and invoking the legacy of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

He said Jobs would not have been able to run the iPhone maker as effectively as Cook.

"I have always been a big fan of Tim Cook, and likewise, Steve Jobs, 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," Trump wrote.

Why did Donald Trump say Tim Cook’s first call marked the start of their relationship?

After 15 years at the helm, Cook, 65, will hand over CEO responsibilities on September 1 to John Ternus, 50, while continuing with Apple Inc. as executive chairman.

Trump described the initial phone call from Cook as the beginning of their working relationship.

“For me, it began with a phone call from Tim at the beginning of my first term, a tough one it was,” he said, adding that he resolved the issue “quickly and effectively.”

He also acknowledged Cook’s career, calling it an “amazing, almost incomparable career”, while placing emphasis on his own role in offering support.

How did Donald Trump describe his “BIG HELPS” to Tim Cook during his presidency?

During his first five years as President, Trump said Cook would call him occasionally and that he would assist where possible.

"Years later, after 3 or 4 BIG HELPS, I started to say to people, anyone who would listen, that this guy is an amazing manager and leader. He makes these calls to me, I help him out (but not always, because he will, on occasion, be too aggressive in his ask)," he emphasised.

Trump contrasted Cook’s approach with what he described as the costly use of consultants in Washington, stating that the Apple chief reached out directly, avoiding “millions of dollars” in advisory fees.

Cook, who took over as Apple CEO in 2011, will step down later this year, marking the end of a tenure that saw the company navigate a technology landscape being reshaped by artificial intelligence.

He will be succeeded by Ternus, currently senior vice president of hardware engineering.