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Trump and Cook's Photo Op
- In 2019, Donald Trump and Tim Cook staged a photo op at an existing Mac Pro factory in Austin, Texas.
- Trump falsely claimed Apple was newly building the factory in the US, while Cook played along.
Cook's Strategy
- Tim Cook's seemingly passive participation in the photo op served a strategic purpose: protecting Apple's business interests in China.
- By appeasing Trump, Cook successfully avoided tariffs on Chinese-made goods, crucial for iPhone sales.
Apple's China Dependence
- Apple's reliance on China is twofold: 20% of its sales come from Chinese consumers, and China is its primary manufacturing hub.
- Tim Cook orchestrated this dependence by shifting Apple's supply chain to China during his early tenure.