After Minnesota incidents: Tim Cook wants to lobby for foreign employees
Most recently, there was strong criticism of the Apple CEO's participation in a film screening with the US President. Now he is commenting on it.
Tim Cook at a product launch in Cupertino.
(Image: Apple / Screenshot YouTube)
Following strong criticism of his participation in an event with US President Donald Trump after the incidents in Minnesota, where members of the US Border Patrol shot two people, Apple CEO Tim Cook has once again commented on the issue. The address took place during an all-hands meeting of the iPhone manufacturer last week, where the CEO also commented on Apple's 50th anniversary in April and his retirement plans. According to the speech text, which has since become public, Cook said he had heard from some employees that they were afraid to leave their homes. “No one should feel that way.” With this, the Apple CEO was referring to the highly controversial actions of the US authorities, who are conducting raids on migrants in numerous major US cities to deport them.
Smarter, wiser, and more innovative
Immigration is important for Apple, Cook said. “Everyone should be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of where they come from.” The company has been smarter, wiser, and more innovative for as long as he can remember because it attracts “the best and brightest people from all over the world.” He will therefore continue to lobby for immigrants with the US government and lawmakers. “You have my word.”
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He is grateful “to work for a company where we stand for [the values of dignity and respect for all].” Apple also stands for education and expanding people's opportunities. “We stand for privacy protection, environmental protection. These values have always guided us and always will.”
Much internal criticism beforehand
Cook had previously received a lot of internal criticism from employees. A memo from Cook, in particular, had been criticized. In it, he stated that he was “deeply shaken” and that “de-escalation” was now needed. However, he then went to a film screening with US President Trump to have a “good conversation.”
This led to anger in internal Apple forums and Slack chats – including a lot of sarcasm. Employees had expressed concern that Cook was associating with the US President – more than ever before, according to one of them, as reported by a US magazine. In recent years, Cook had, among other things, succeeded in protecting Apple from new US tariffs that would have significantly increased the price of the iPhone and other products manufactured in China and elsewhere.
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