Trump Says Tim Cook Made 'Good Case' That Tariffs Would Put Apple at Disadvantage With Rivals Like Samsung

[thisisnotmyname]

Their relationship is so weird:

1. Trump really seems to have respect for Tim Cook. You wouldn't expect him to say "Ah yes, he actually makes good points, I'll think about it"

2. It's weird that from all business leaders - it seems that Tim Cook is the one who has the closest relationship with president Trump. In many ways he is the "Anti Trump". I can't help imagining Cook thinking "what an idiot" everytime they meet.

3. What if they actually are friends? That would be an even stranger relationship of a political leader and a celebrity being friends than Kim-Jong Un and Dennis Rodman.

For disclosure: I'm European and while I find Trump irritating, I wouldn't call myself Anti-Trump (nor pro-Trump).

I've never met Trump but I've heard he's very charming and charismatic in person, not at all like the persona he puts on for crowds when he's having a one on one conversation. Although I didn't vote for him and don't support many of his policies, if he invited me to dinner (in a context other than fundraising) I'd go, just as I would for any other US president, and I'd expect it would be an interesting evening. I don't think Cook was thinking "what an idiot" throughout their conversation.

 

[Glideslope]

I wonder how it feels for Tim Cook to meet such a simple-minded person like president Trump, and actually having a conversation with him.

There is no “conversation” between them. Tim simply points out how The Orange Ones actions will make him unpopular with a sizable portion of Americans. This triggers a pathological response based on his narcissistic personality. Tim then shows him a selection of different colored shapes(red,white,blue)representing being liked vs disliked. Tim strategically places Apple’s priorities on the liked shapes. The Orange One agrees with Tim’s color choices and dinner is over. Tim rides to the airport pondering the future of mankind now that he has secured his shareholders positions.

 

[MauiPa]

President Trump is the man! Tim Cook, not so much.

? in what universe?

 

[thisisnotmyname]

Hey, let me know how that "booming economy" is going in a year or so.

Said in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019.

I'd be careful about crediting or blaming any president for the economy. Economic forces can often move in contrast to short term policy decisions. Playing red team/blue team over the direction of the economy in any specific year (or couple of years) is likely to backfire on people that just want to score political points.

@Amacfa: Bill Clinton oversaw tremendous economic growth during his time in office

@jonblatho: Jimmy Carter oversaw terrible stagflation

 

[MauiPa]

Yet we have a booming economy. More jobs, low unemployment, and were finally standing up to a country that commits humanitarian atrocities, steals $300b in intellectual property, and cheats America for jobs.

hmmm. I wonder if facts support that? Economic growth on par with 2009-2016 (and a Trump never hit the high quarterly GDP growth that Obama did), job growth is down from Obama years (last 2 yers of O 215k/month, T 185k/month, unemployment does go down if you have positive job growth, its true, since 2009 we have had positive job growth, and unemployment has gone down. Inflation - up, deficit - way, way up. And a trade war where T paid off a criminal in Brazil as a "farmer" hurt by trade wars.

Summary, T inherited a good economy with good job growth, and has decreased job growth, increased inflation, and increased deficits! Way to Go!
[doublepost=1566182848][/doublepost]

It's stories like this that make it apparent how Trump hasn't managed to royally **** up the country the way so many of us expected him to. Don't get me wrong, the man is a total moron and a pompous ass, but as long as other, smarter people with rationale are able to keep him from destroying the economy (and the world) then all the better.

Hopefully we can keep it up until November of next year when we will restore some order and class to the White House.

Make America Respected Again!

 

[thisisnotmyname]

One of those men is a well-dressed, well-liked billionaire.

There's only one billionaire in that picture, are you saying you like Trump well?

 

[macfacts]

So does Samsung manufacture elsewhere? Why can they do it and Apple can’t?

Samsung use South Korea and Vietnam.

 

[AlexGraphicD]

It's stories like this that make it apparent how Trump hasn't managed to royally **** up the country the way so many of us expected him to. Don't get me wrong, the man is a total moron and a pompous ass, but as long as other, smarter people with rationale are able to keep him from destroying the economy (and the world) then all the better.

Hopefully we can keep it up until November of next year when we will restore some order and class to the White House.

What a bunch of lies. Meanwhile the economy is booming, lowest unemployment ever for all races, tax cuts, strong borders etc.

Yeah, let’s keep it up until next November and elect the same corrupted career politicians who serve the establishment and the status quo. That’s not “order” and “class”. That’s a pathetic way to look at governance.
[doublepost=1566183493][/doublepost]

Hey, let me know how that "booming economy" is going in a year or so.

Yeah you can keep dreaming that that “booming economy” is going to collapse in a year or so. The only thing that is going to collapse is the corrupt democratic establishment which is on its last days with all these deranged socialist front runners for 2020.

 

[jonblatho]

I'd be careful about crediting or blaming any president for the economy. Economic forces can often move in contrast to short term policy decisions. Playing red team/blue team over the direction of the economy in any specific year (or couple of years) is likely to backfire on people that just want to score political points.

I already discussed this, but I’ll rephrase to address this specifically: I’m not crediting or blaming anyone; just saying that the economy’s approaching its ceiling for this expansion. This is a fact. I don’t think I’ve made that political at all.

 

[Aragornii]

Aww... Donald's hands and Melania's are the same size. How cute.

https://imgflip.com/i/38c24j

 

[BlueTide]

"horder" who "can't even spell"

Haha, good catch! Still better than him, tho.

 

[Mansu944]

Tax policy should really be a strictly congressional matter. It's pretty ridiculous that Trump can actually dictate these things.

Thank congress for giving up it's powers.

 

[jicon]

That picture is from A YEAR ago.

Tariffs benefit nobody.

A sitting head of state should be separating their business as to not favor any political gain.

Forget foreign influence... strong laws to lessen lobbyist influence are needed.

And... please, next election, know who you are voting for. Get out and vote accordingly.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

I already discussed this, but I’ll rephrase to address this specifically: I’m not crediting or blaming anyone; just saying that the economy’s approaching its ceiling for this expansion. This is a fact. I don’t think I’ve made that political at all.

I inferred you were saying the economy was going to turn based upon Trump's policies (not that it can't, just a dangerous assertion to make, especially with a quick timetable attached). My apologies.

 

[jimbobb24]

Apple has learned after Obama started leaning on them that you have to worship at the feet of DC in our crony economy. Everyone needs more lobbyists in our corrupt dying democracy.

 

[i.mac]

That picture is from A YEAR ago.

Tariffs benefit nobody.

A sitting head of state should be separating their business as to not favor any political gain.

Forget foreign influence... strong laws to lessen lobbyist influence are needed.

And... please, next election, know who you are voting for. Get out and vote accordingly.

Lamentably, most of the US electorate thinks and behaves like (a) frogs in a pot of boiling water and/or (b) blind personality cult.

I’ll buy my apple device before December 15. Thanks Tim for affording us the delay.

 

[abhibeckert]

So does Samsung manufacture elsewhere? Why can they do it and Apple can’t?

About half of Apple's revenue is in the USA while for Samsung it's closer to a third. Samsung doesn't rely on US customers to the same degree.

On top of that, Apple does nearly all their manufacturing in China while Samsung only does about a quarter of it there (and has been reducing the number in recent years).

Combine the two, and Samsung may be able to avoid the tariffs entirely. In fact it's possible all of their Chinese made phones are already exclusively sold in China.

 

[AustinIllini]

So does Samsung manufacture elsewhere? Why can they do it and Apple can’t?

Because Apple is an American company and has limited clout in Asia relative to Samsung. Apple probably would struggle to manufacture in markets where Samsung manufacture

 

[Mr Staunton]

And there's another reason to increase the cost of an iPhone.

 

[coolbreeze]

Hey, let me know how that "booming economy" is going in a year or so.

(Edit: before you get triggered, I said people LIKE you, not you specifically)

People like you are actually wanting a recession. Pretty terrifying, actually. No sane person would ever want an economic decline, along with it's consequences, to be wished on an entire country just because they hate one man. It's sad, really.

Our President is finally standing up to China and puts the country he leads first. This is a good thing, kids. It's okay to like your country...no wonder everyone is trying to pour across the border...this is a pretty great place! Tim knows what he is doing...he has the false God of money and profit leading him by the nose.

Now, watch me get warned/slapped on the wrist for this post. It's not low effort anti-Trump snark so they always get mad at me for it. Okie Dokie.

 

[827538]

Yet we have a booming economy. More jobs, low unemployment, and were finally standing up to a country that commits humanitarian atrocities, steals $300b in intellectual property, and cheats America for jobs.

Exactly, as an immigrant to the US I’m fully in support of Trump.

Black unemployment is at a 50 year low under Trump.
He’s doing everything he can to tackle illegal immigration which really hurts legal immigrants like myself.

I’m sick of hearing that he’s a racist. No the real racists are the left wing in America who come at everything with the bigotry of low expectations and call everyone a racist for not agreeing with them.

The US had to stand up to China eventually and anyone who follows world economics and politics understands these tariffs are hurting China far more than they are hurting the US.

Trump is not perfect - I don’t support all his energy or environmental policies but from a subjective and fair stance he’s actually doing a decent job.

This is one immigrant who’ll be supporting Trump in 2020 and not the DNC who treat immigrants like dumb children who don’t know better and need hand outs.

One thing I’ve noticed since living in America - the right do not give a monkeys about skin color, it’s the left that obsess over race and perceived ‘inequality’.

 

[az431]

So does Samsung manufacture elsewhere? Why can they do it and Apple can’t?

in case you haven’t heard, Samsung is a South Korean company.

 

[farewelwilliams]

President Trump is the man! Tim Cook, not so much.

can't tell if being sarcastic.

 

[coolbreeze]

Exactly, as an immigrant to the US I’m fully in support of Trump.

Black unemployment is at a 50 year low under Trump.
He’s doing everything he can to tackle illegal immigration which really hurts legal immigrants like myself.

I’m sick of hearing that he’s a racist. No the real racists are the left wing in America who come at everything with the bigotry of low expectations and call everyone a racist for not agreeing with them.

The US had to stand up to China eventually and anyone who follows world economics and politics understands these tariffs are hurting China far more than they are hurting the US.

Trump is not perfect - I don’t support all his energy or environmental policies but from a subjective and fair stance he’s actually doing a decent job.

This is one immigrant who’ll be supporting Trump in 2020 and not the DNC who treat immigrants like dumb children who don’t know better and need hand outs.

One thing I’ve noticed since living in America - the right do not give a monkeys about skin color, it’s the left that obsess over race and perceived ‘inequality’.

100% true. This person gets it. Great post!

 

[rp2011]

Poor Tim. A man has to do what a man has to do. But a photo-op with Turd is degrading.