Update: Elon Musk said in a tweet today that the American Enterprise Institute meeting was not secretive and that he was not there to talk about Trump.
The AEI meeting wasn't secret and I was only there for a few hours to talk about Mars and sustainable energy. Nothing to do with Trump.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 9, 2016
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has been very vocal with his opinions about Apple recently and now, it appears that Tim Cook is part of a coalition trying to stop Trump gaining the nomination. According to a report from the Huffington Post, Cook was among a handful of tech CEOs and Republican establishment members who recently met at the American Enterprise Institute’s World Forum to discuss how to best stop Donald Trump.
According to the report, the meeting took place off the coast of Georgia at a private island resort and included Tim Cook, Google co-founder Larry Page, Sean Parker, and Elon Musk. Other establishment attendees included Mitch McConnell, Karl Rove, House Speaker Paul Ryan, Tom Cotton, Cory Gardner, Tim Scott, Rob Portman, and Ben Sasse.
The event was closed to the press, so exact details aren’t entirely clear, but the report says that the “main topic” was stopping Donald Trump from getting the Republican nomination. How Trump even ended up as the front-runner was also a topic of discussion, the report claims.
Karl Rove gave a presentation at the event during which he discussed the weaknesses of Trump, the primary of which, he claimed, is that voters “have a very hard time envisioning him as presidential.”
While Trump was the center point of the event, Apple’s battle with the FBI over encryption was also brought up. The report says that Republican senator Tom Cotton from Arkansas shared words with Tim Cook over Apple’s refusal to cooperate with a court order asking it to unlock the iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino gunmen. Cotton was reportedly “pretty harsh on Cook,” so much so that everyone else was left feeling rather uncomfortable by the hostility.
In the past, Donald Trump has vocalized his opinions on Apple. At one point, he said that he would “get Apple to start building their damn computers and things in this country, instead of other countries.” Furthermore, Trump last month called for a boycott of Apple until it cooperates with the FBI’s request to unlock the iPhone in question.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Breaking the mirror doesn’t make us look any better.
It wasn’t exactly a secret meeting if people knew he was there…lol. Clickbait title.
In the past, no information at all has ever come out of this meeting so it’s pretty secretive. http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-03-05/aei-s-world-forum-so-secretive-we-couldn-t-even-get-a-snow-update
Did that include back dooming into his iPhone and getting his information off the phone?
I think you meant “Back-dooring,” but I like your version better. Appropriate.
Haha, got lucky with that spell check replacement… No edit options on here huh?
Back-dooming: The act of reflecting a sorcerer’s spell back at the caster.
So, it seems as though the people who claim that the political system is fixed, and the elites decide who rules, might just be onto something.
Man the reporting on this is just awful. This is a retreat put on by the American Enterprise Institute. It happens every year and Tim Cook reportedly has attended in the past. Considering a lot of conservatives want nothing to do with Trump I’m sure his name came up. But it wasn’t a secret meeting about him.
this is the best comment source on the page
Here’s an article saying it was secretive. Now I don’t know who to believe:
http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-03-05/aei-s-world-forum-so-secretive-we-couldn-t-even-get-a-snow-update
So I went to Wikipedia:
“Sea Island Acquisitions, LLC owns the island, operating two resorts, limiting most public access.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Island,_Georgia
As I understand it, journalists cannot attend. Is that what you’re referring to, when saying “it’s not secretive”? At any rate, no one is saying the meeting was about DT. Well, maybe tech sites, but they’re known to get some *bits* wrong lol
1) Big Apple Fan
2) Not a Trump supporter
3) If this is true, as it reads, Tim Cook and others should have nothing to do with this. If the people voting in GOP primaries want Trump, so be it.
What is it with all the 1 percenters, all the elites, trying to scheme against Trump: a bit hypocritical, no? Especially with their only alternative is Cruz–pathetic.
There are plenty of examples of some VIP going off the reservation and then being left high and dry.
Isn’t Trump one of the 1%?
Where was the out cry for Ron Paul 4 years ago when the GOP cheated and picked McCain over the real winner?
Just the point I was going to make. Cruz is just as horrible as Trump, just sneaker. He’s less in your face with his bigotry and hate, but he’s really no better. Unfortunately, this election cycle in November it will come down to a choice between two people with very high negatives. I’m not sure who will win but I expect a huge number of people will just not vote. A record low turnout, will elect an unpopular President and a bitterly divided Congress. Yeah that’s a recipe for a functional country.
I might believe Trump could get Apple to make their devices here but only after he stopped having his suits, ties and hotel linens made in countries other than Mexico and China.
Apple /Tim…
Please stay out of Politics and focus on makeing products that blow our minds.
Its been a while…and 2015 was a year of disarray..
Tim.. Its not up to u to Manipulate Thrumps election! You have a vote .. So do rest of american people.
Your job is to focus on Apple… Not partisan rivalry .
Apple donated 1.51 million as lobbyist they are no better then any other company trying to cheat the hell out of the establishment. I like my apple products just fine but let’s be real here it’s no secret Apple pays to get away with shady business practices and have been doing so for a while now.
He is focused on Apple. The outcome of the elections and subsequent policy decisions will have a significant impact on Apple’s bottom line. Trump is floating a trade war with China – would that not have a major impact on Apple’s manufacturing operations?
The overlap between business and politics is significant, and a good CEO will be looking out for his or her company’s interests.
Update..
I have in VERY Good Authority that he never attended such meeting or intends to.. … Its a bogus rumor!
Though, as I understand it from outside the US, this type of manipulation of democratic process is one of the factors in Trump’s popularity?
just don’t vote him
maybe after such a secret meeting Kennedy was killed many years ago
Trump is what happens when the Republicans have been fuelling the fires of bigotry for almost fifty years since the Southern Strategy and then someone like Trump comes along and rather than just giving lip service to the sweaty and angry masses he actually carries their torch for them. I don’t know why this is remotely surprising given that it was the Republican leadership who believed they could use the culture war plus other push button issues to get their base to do what they want but now the base want something done rather than simply lip service in the name the Republicans pushing through policies that cater for their donors.
The only solution is for the Republicans to accept they’ve lost the presidency, senate and congress then go back to a set of values that aren’t based on bigotry and hatred – the Libertarian wing I could imagine working together with fiscal conservatives and some social conservatives would be happy with things like vouchers if it means they can have their own religious schools with the only ones left out being the religious nuts who believe America should be a Christian theocracy but they number in a few thousand and would drop out of the voting system either way. There needs to be a reboot of the Republican Party but the lack of leadership within the Republicans means it’ll never happen.
I’m socially liberal but it isn’t healthy to have more or less a one party state by virtue of the alternative party being so weak and dysfunctional that it is unable to set itself up as a viable alternative government in waiting. There needs to be a strong Republican Party with a broad base and real policies but so far I look on stage at who is on offer and none of them are viable presidents. Btw, the only difference between Donal Trump and John Kasich is that John Kasich can hide is crazy a lot better – check out John Kasich’s record in Ohio then come back and say he is moderate especially when it comes to women’s reproductive rights.
Rather disingenuous of Trump, considering his own product lines are manufactured overseas, and he imports “near-slave” labor to work in his Florida properties… but then again, isn’t that his true nature – the ultimate charlatan?
S’far as Rep Cotton? I suggest he fault the FBI for ignorantly compromising that iPhone initially and then trying to shame/coerce Apple into covering for their (FBI) error…
if ANYONE has the right to harshly condemn another for failure to perform their duties, it is the American public – chastising the entire Republican party for obstructing not only the political system, but now the judicial, as well!
As their party implodes/disintegrates, they have no one to blame but themselves: I only hope that – as insidiously pervasive as their tentacles are throughout our country’s politics – their dissolution does not similarly devastateour entire political system in the process.
Hack his iPhone and publish his secret love affair with Putin.
Tom Cotton is a moron.
Easy solution: crowdsource a hitman.
Hang on a sec, if this is a secretive meeting and press were not invited then how is any word of this report to be believed? They could have been attending a billionaires pool party for all we know or discussing the last episode of the x-files. Speculation of the highest form, shame on you 9to5 for even publishing this, you of all people should see this as political propaganda. Steer clear of that crap, seriously!
Hang on a sec, if this is a secretive meeting and press were not invited then how is any word of this report to be believed? They could have been attending a billionaires pool party for all we know or discussing the last episode of the x-files. Speculation of the highest form, shame on you 9to5 for even publishing this, you of all people should see this as political propaganda. Steer clear, seriously!
I find this report unbelievable. That meeting could just as well as been about the USA’s international tax policy. In fact, it’s far more likely that it was about tax policy. Personally I find it hard to believe that leaders of highly respected major international companies would need to try to stop a particular candidate, especially in the Republican party. Knowing what we know about Tim Cook, Larry Page, and Elon Musk it’s not likely that these guys are Republicans. I can see though that a headline like this is far more attention grabbing then major leaders of international companies meet to discuss tax policy with Republicans.
“I find it hard to believe that leaders of highly respected major international companies would need to try to stop a particular candidate”
It makes sense if they believe a Trump presidency would be significantly damaging to their business interests. He has already talked about protectionist policies, which would significantly affect trade with China, and thus Apple’s core manufacturing.
That’s a very amusing photomontage they’re using here!
Disclaimer: I think this article is clickbait and likely has little truth to it. I also am not an avid supporter of Donald Trump. I don’t like anyone (that has a chance of winning) in this election.
That being said, if this is true, it’s kind of amusing. Donald Trump’s only valid talking point is that our government is completely and totally controlled by large corporations and big government. He claims that the 1% in the country don’t want him in the White House and will do anything to try to stop him. He will then go on to say that is because he is the only candidate who is “not owned”. Regardless, if this is true… Then they are kind of proving his point. Lol.
I took your post seriously, until the “lol” at the very end.
Elites going to a private island to manipulate elections will certainly calm the anger of the GOP base. A foolproof plan.
I’m sorry but Cruz is every bit as scary as Trump if not more so. This right wing hack is just as much a danger to our democracy. The dumbing down of America is nearly complete base on these two being the front runners for the party of suppression and deception.
Is Tim Cook a Republican? If not, why was he there?
Apple in secret meeting, thats then posted on 9to5mac and then about how to stop Donald Trump.
Get a reality check please. Its not going to happen.
Apple, stop scamming USA and get your funds onto the soil and PAY YOUR TAXES THAT ARE DUE!!!!
Its THAT simple!
André, stop with the “pay taxes that are owed” because it weakens anything else you say.
Apple does pay every legal tax it needs to. End of discussion.
Just because you say End of discussion like some kind of teenager that can’t get his will, dosen’t mean the discussion ends here.
Please explain to me the billions of dollars kept offshore? This is to avoid the tax.
We both enjoy Apple products, but please, don’t be so blind if possible.
Easy. They are a multi-national corporation. The billions of dollars kept off shore are the result of profits earned in other parts of the world. The US has one of the highest repatriation rate in the civilized world. Apple executives, including Tim Cook, have argued for a lower rate so they can bring this money into this country. To date, the government of the United States has not lowered the rate. As a result, Apple has not brought this money back. They have don’t precisely zero wrong, there are no “taxes owed” as you claim. End of facts. (Is that a better phrase for you?)
Now, you can argue a moral obligation, or what have you, but that is an opinion. To claim that Apple is doing something illegal, hence not paying what is owed, is factually incorrect. It is what politicians do to get away with lying.
This is getting like something from a conspiracy novel …
Global mega-corporation so rich they exceed the income of many whole countries.
So powerful they can refuse to comply with court orders, pick and choose what tax they are willing to pay (if any) and can demand laws be made or changed.
Cosy one to one meetings with presidents, prime ministers and chancellors whenever they want.
Now they are conspiring to influence elections.
Scary.
I think it’s more scary that you think these are the facts. Quite spooky.
wait what…so the government shouldnt get involved with tech companies and tell them what to do — but it’s ok for tech companies to get together to discuss ‘in secret’ how to deal with government affairs…
for one, it wasnt a very secret meeting…
and two, it’s kinda very hypocritical regardless of whether trump is a bit of loonie