Trump Reveals Apple CEO Tim Cook Reached Out to Him Over $15 Billion EU Fine [Video]

Former President Donald Trump disclosed that Apple CEO Tim Cook recently contacted him regarding a $15 billion fine imposed on the company by the EU. Trump shared details of the phone call during an extensive interview on the PBD Podcast.

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So Tim Cook called and then about a year later he called again or something else. He said, "Could I see you?"

Now, most companies send in lobbyists that get paid millions and millions of dollars to talk for them. And they probably say, "We know Trump. We can talk," but they don't. You know, for the most part they don't.


And Tim Cook called me up directly and he did it himself. He didn't have to pay 10 cents and I gave him 100% of what he wanted because he was right. I mean, you can't compete with Samsung and one's paying a tax. But I said, "You got to gradually move your company here."

But then two hours ago, three hours ago, he called me. He said, "I'd like to talk to you about something."

"What?"

He said, "The European Union has just fined us $15 billion."


I said, "That's a lot."

I know the feeling because I get fined too in fake cases. But I don't know if his case is fake yet, but it's a lot. Then on top of that, they got fined by the European Union another $2 billion. So it's a $17 to $18 billion fine.

I even said about Apple, "Can you pay that? I mean, do you have that kind of—that's a lot of money."

And he said something that was interesting. He said they're using that to run their enterprise, meaning Europe is their enterprise.

And I said, "That's a lot." I said, "But Tim, I got to get elected first. But I'm not going to let them take advantage of our companies. That won't be happening."
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In 2016, the European Commission decided that companies belonging to the Apple Group had, from 1991 to 2014, received tax advantages that constituted State aid granted by Ireland. That aid related to the tax treatment of profits generated by Apple's activities outside the United States. In 2020, the General Court annulled the Commission's decision, holding that the Commission had not sufficiently established that those companies enjoyed a selective advantage. In September 2024, on appeal, the Court of Justice set aside the judgment of the General Court and gave final judgment in the matter, conversely confirming the Commission's decision. Apple maintains that it operated within the law and never asked for, or received, any special deals.

Earlier this year, the EU fined Apple around $2 billion for allegedly abusing its dominant position on the market for the distribution of music streaming apps to iPhone and iPad users through its App Store.

Check out the full PBD interview with Trump below...