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‘How much will you invest in US?’: Donald Trump grills Tim Cook after saying Apple CEO is ‘coming home’

The dinner hosted by US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania was attended by some of the biggest names in the tech world.

Published on: Sep 5, 2025, 12:15:03 IST
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US President Donald Trump hosted a dinner at White House with the leaders of America’s largest tech companies. During the high-profile dinner, the president took a veiled dig at Tim Cook’s India plans and grilled him about how much he would invest in the US.

Tim Cook at White House in a dinner hosted by Donald Trump with tech bosses. (X/@RapidResponse47)
Tim Cook at White House in a dinner hosted by Donald Trump with tech bosses. (X/@RapidResponse47)

Tim Cook, you've done an incredible job with Apple… very few people are able to do what you’ve done, congratulations,” says Trump in the presence of the who's who of the tech world - including Mark Zuckerberg and Sam Altman. Cook instantly thanks Trump, adding it is “incredible” to be a part of the event hosted by Trump and the First Lady, Melania Trump.

Also Read: Barack Obama’s LinkedIn profile features a pic of Donald Trump. Here's why

The Apple CEO continues, “I want to thank you for setting the tone such that we could make a major investment in the United States… That says a lot about your focus and your leadership and your focus on innovation.”

Trump then asks how much money Apple will invest in the United States of America. He adds, “You know you were elsewhere, now you’re really coming home in a big way. How much will you be investing?” Cook replies, “$600 billion.”

Take a look at the video:

How did social media react?

People have a lot to say about the conversations. An individual commented, “Bringing more manufacturing back to the US is what America voted for.” Another added, “Why do I always get the feeling that we’re about to get screwed.”

Also Read: Apple boss Tim Cook shares ‘beautiful and vibrant’ Holi pic by Indian CEO, wows internet

A third expressed, “I feel less worse owning Apple products now, I guess.” A fourth wrote, “The amount of capital being discussed in this one meeting is just incredible. A huge day for the future of the US economy and the next wave of technological innovation.”

Who attended Donald Trump's dinner?

The extensive guest list had some of the biggest names in the tech world, including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Apple CEO Tim Cook.

There were five Indian-origin bosses who attended the Rose Garden event. They’re Micron’s Sanjay Mehrotra, Palantir executive Shyam Sankar, TIBCO Software chairman Vivek Ranadive, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, and Google's Sundar Pichai.

  • Trisha Sengupta
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Trisha Sengupta

    Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More