Trump recounts Tim Cook call to 'kiss my ass,' in stark look at White House dealmaking

President Trump’s Truth Social post recounting a phone call with Tim Cook underscores how corporate outreach has translated into White House favors that have had market consequences. The article notes Cook is stepping down as Apple CEO on Sept. 1 to become executive chairman, and highlights past policy wins for Apple — including a tariff exemption that helped the company regain roughly a $3 trillion market value. It places Apple’s relationship with the administration in a broader context of tech and media firms (Amazon, Google, Meta, Tesla, Intel, Disney) courting Trump for regulatory relief, contracts and favorable decisions. The piece cites other market-relevant actions — a U.S. 10% stake in Intel via an $8.9 billion investment and large political donations from tech executives — that illustrate the interplay between political access and corporate outcomes, a theme investors may watch for policy- and sentiment-driven risks or tailwinds for exposed stocks.