Tim Cook’s legacy isn’t just phones, it’s politics

<figure> <img alt="Photo illustration of Tim Cook." data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Illustration by Cath Virginia / The Verge | Photo by Justin Sullivan, Getty Images" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25345071/STK468_APPLE_ANTITRUST_CVIRGINIA_I.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">As much as any Apple product released during his time as CEO, Tim Cook's tenure will be remembered for its ruthlessly efficient tight-rope walk between an autocrat in China and a would-be autocrat in the US.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">During his 15 years as CEO, Cook steered Apple through relations with both Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, including escalating conflicts between the two. As Apple's enmeshment in China raised serious questions about reports of forced labor and censorship, Cook managed to appease Xi while maneuvering around political blowback in the US. And when Trump launched a trade war against China, Cook managed to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/12/trump-apple-china-tariff-rollback.html">soften</a> …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/987356/tim-cook-apple-trump-xi">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>