Apple(US:AAPL) Hua Er Jie Jian Wen·2025-05-27 13:46Core Viewpoint - Apple's CEO Tim Cook has faced significant backlash from President Trump after choosing not to attend a recent Middle East trip, which has led to public criticism and potential trade repercussions for the company [1][2][3]. Group 1: Relationship with Trump Administration - Cook's absence from the Middle East trip has reportedly angered Trump, who publicly criticized him during his visit [1][2]. - Previously, Cook was considered a favored CEO by Trump, even humorously referred to as "Tim Apple" in 2019, but this relationship appears to have soured [3]. Group 2: Challenges Faced by Apple - Apple is currently dealing with multiple challenges, including a recent legal defeat in an App Store lawsuit where Cook was accused of lying under oath [4]. - The company's former chief designer, Jony Ive, has joined OpenAI, posing a direct competitive threat to Apple [4]. - Apple's upcoming Vision Pro mixed reality headset is expected to underperform upon its release in January 2024, and the delay of a new Siri version has raised concerns about its competitiveness in AI [5]. Group 3: Trade and Economic Pressures - Trump's recent comments suggest a potential 25% tariff on iPhones manufactured abroad, which could impact Apple's pricing and market strategy [1][5]. - Although Apple has committed to investing $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years and sourcing $19 billion worth of chips domestically, these measures may not satisfy the Trump administration's demands [5]. - The uncertainty surrounding potential tariff increases poses ongoing pressure on Apple's global supply chain and investor confidence [5].