Donald Trump claims that Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, called him to express worries about fines from the European Union (EU) .
Trump shared this information during a recent podcast, saying Cook was upset about a €13 billion ($14 billion) tax bill that the EU ordered Apple to pay to Ireland .
Trump said Cook mentioned a total of $17 to $18 billion in fines, which includes a recent $15 billion penalty and an additional $2 billion fine for not following EU rules .
This discussion comes after a long legal battle where the EU found that Ireland gave Apple illegal tax breaks. Cook has previously described the EU’s actions as “political” and believes Ireland is being unfairly targeted.
In their conversation, Cook remarked that the EU uses the money from these fines to support its operations . Trump assured Cook that he would not allow the EU to “take advantage of our companies,” but he emphasized that he needs to win the election first .
Trump is actively trying to gain support from major tech leaders, having spoken to others like Elon Musk and Google’s Sundar Pichai recently .
The EU’s regulations have created concerns among tech firms, leading to comments about “regulatory uncertainty,” particularly regarding new laws like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA) .
These rules aim to ensure fair competition and protect users, but companies like Apple worry they could make their services less safe .
Trump’s focus on these issues highlights the growing tension between U.S. tech companies and European regulators, as both sides navigate the complexities of doing business in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj4d75zl212o