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Tim Cook says ‘thank you’ 8 times in less than two minutes at dinner with Donald Trump: ‘He was super nervous’

In addition to Tim Cook, Donald Trump’s guest list had big names from the tech world, including Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Sundar Pichai, and Satya Nadella.

Published on: Sep 6, 2025, 08:32:57 IST
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Hawk-eyed social media users recently noticed something on a video of Tim Cook’s interaction with Donald Trump at the recent White House dinner, and now they cannot stop talking about it. Many tweeted how the Apple CEO is seen saying “thank you” eight times in less than two minutes during his conversation with the president.

Donald Trump met who's who of Silicon Valley in a lavish dinner at White House. (Bloomberg, AP)
Donald Trump met who's who of Silicon Valley in a lavish dinner at White House. (Bloomberg, AP)

Tim Cook says ‘thank you’ eight times in less than two minutes. Incredible,” an X user posted while sharing the video. It shows Cook praising Trump for his interest in the tech industry and revealing Apple's plan to invest $600 billion in the US. Throughout the conversation, he says “thank you” to Trump seven times and expresses his appreciation to First Lady Melania Trump once.

What did social media say?

An individual joked, “I counted NINE! (One at the end was sort of a double thank you for good measure).” Another added, “Steve Jobs is rolling in his grave.”

Also Read: South Park mocks Zuckerberg, Tim Cook and Trump with a twist in latest episode

A third posted, “That's interesting. It's a sign of extreme discomfort & guilt, usually, but can be anxiety. The need for that is a sign of desperation, not by honour.” A fourth remarked, “Despite there being a lot of interesting and powerful people at that table, the ambience of this dinner appears stuffy & performative, like it would be difficult to sit still.” A fifth wrote, “Mark and Tim were super nervous at that meeting.”

Who was invited to the Rose Garden dinner?

President Donald Trump hosted a high-powered list of tech leaders at the White House, including Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Apple CEO Tim Cook, and five Indian-origin leaders. They are Palantir executive Shyam Sankar, TIBCO Software chairman Vivek Ranadive, Micron’s Sanjay Mehrotra, Google's Sundar Pichai, and Microsoft’s Satya Nadella.

Elon Musk, once a close Trump ally who later had a major public falling out with the US President, was missing from the event. However, his AI rival OpenAI’s Sam Altman attended the event.

The meeting focused on artificial intelligence and investments in the United States.

  • 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