Sources familiar with the matter said that Apple CEO Tim Cook will donate $ 1 million (about Rs 8.57 crore) to the inaugural committee of US President-elect Donald Trump. Mr Cook sees the inauguration as an American tradition and is making the donation in the spirit of unity, Axios reports.
The two met several times during President Trump’s first term and had a dinner at Mar-a-Lago last month. Following the November 2024 US presidential election, The Wall Street Journal reported on Mr Cook’s efforts to build a personal relationship with Trump over the years. The report said the Apple CEO developed a unique approach to meetings with the 78-year-old leader, bringing only one key data point to focus on one issue. “That approach helped keep the meetings from moving in too many directions,” the report said.
Mr Cook’s relationship with Trump dates back to 2019, when he gifted the then President a Mac Pro computer, worth $5,999 (about Rs 5.14 lakh), which was assembled at an Apple factory in Austin, Texas. . They have also met a few times, including at Trump Tower and his Bedminster, New Jersey, club.
Trump’s upcoming inauguration is receiving substantial support from high-profile donors. Silicon Valley contributors include Sam Altman, CEO of Amazon, Meta, Uber and OpenAI. Amazon, Meta, and OpenAI have all pledged $1 million, while Uber has pledged $2 million. Some of these donations are being made personally by the CEOs of companies rather than through corporate channels.
Apart from tech giants, the automotive industry has shown strong support. Toyota has pledged $1 million, following similar commitments from Ford and General Motors.
Wall Street has also stepped in, with Goldman Sachs and Bank of America among the seven-figure donors, while cryptocurrency exchanges Kraken and Coinbase have also made significant contributions.
Donations for Trump’s inauguration are expected to exceed those raised for President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021. A new term begins.
