Who Owns the Media: Apple

Apple 🐔🐔

Capitulation Rank: Compromising
Category: Online Platform and Hardware 
Market Cap: $3.630 trillion

Apple CEO Tim Cook personally donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural committee. In a post-election statement, he congratulated the incoming president, adding: “We look forward to engaging with you and your administration to help make sure the United States continues to lead with and be fueled by ingenuity, innovation and creativity.”

Following the election, Cook dined at Mar-a-Lago with Trump. The two also spoke on the eve of the Jan. 20 inauguration and have reportedly had several discussions since. In his comments about the call, Trump said Apple is “going to make a massive investment in the United States because of our big election win.”

Cook’s ongoing efforts to woo Trump have yielded few benefits for the company. According to The New York Times, “[Cook] has gone gone from one of Mr. Trump’s most beloved chief executives … to one of the White House’s biggest corporate targets.” In addition, CNN reported in May 2025 that Trump’s tariffs were likely to add nearly a billion dollars in costs to the tech giant — costs that will surely be passed on to U.S. consumers of Apple products.

DEI Doublespeak:

At Apple’s annual shareholder meeting in February 2025, 97 percent of stakeholders rejected an anti-DEI proposal a conservative think tank submitted, solidifying Apple’s commitment to DEI despite Trump’s demands. However, Apple boss Tim Cook has said his company “may have to change its diversity practices as the U.S. legal landscape shifts.” Apple’s website continues to express a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

What It Owns:

Apple is a major consumer-electronics, computing-hardware and software company, and owns subsidiary companies in a number of industries. In addition to its own branded hardware and software, notable companies and services include Apple Card, Apple Pay, Beats by Dre, Beddit.com, BIS Records, Braeburn Capital, Claris, DatakaLab and Mira Labs. It also offers various online services including Apple Arcade, Apple Books, Apple Fitness+, Apple Music, Apple News+, Apple TV+, DarwinAI, Primephonic, Shazam, Siri and the iTunes Store. Apple Studios is its media-production subsidiary.

Money & Influence Game:

Apple paid lobbyists $7,820,000 in 2024, and its employees made $5,315,297 in contributions to political candidates (2024 cycle). (SOURCE: Center for Responsive Politics)