The CEO of Apple, Tim Cook, has gifted a ‘unique’ statue to President Donald Trump that is made with 24K gold before a $2.5 billion announcement was made.
A press conference was held at the White House yesterday (August 7) where new manufacturing plans for Apple were discussed.
This is where CEO of the tech giant, Cook, revealed the unusual present for the president, which contained a ‘unique’ piece of glass originating from the glass manufacturer of the iPhone, Corning.
The glass, which was in the shape of a large disc with the Apple logo cut into it, was set within a 24K gold base.
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President Trump’s own name was also printed on the glass along with the words ‘Made in the USA’.
According to Cook, the gift was designed by a former US Marine Corps corporal who now works for Apple.
This display comes after phone manufacturers were threatened with looming tariffs by Trump unless they move their manufacturing to the US.
It appears that Apple has taken heed of the warning as, earlier this week, the company announced a new $100 billion commitment to the US, with a ‘significant acceleration of its US investment that now totals $600 billion over the next four years’.
This announcement includes the unveiling of the new American Manufacturing Program (AMP), which is said to be dedicated to bringing even more of Apple’s supply chain and advanced manufacturing to the US.
Through AMP, Apple has said that it will ‘increase its investment across America and incentivize global companies to manufacture even more critical components in the United States’.
In a statement released on Wednesday (August 6), Cook said: “Today, we’re proud to increase our investments across the United States to $600 billion over four years and launch our new American Manufacturing Program.
“This includes new and expanded work with 10 companies across America. They produce components that are used in Apple products sold all over the world, and we’re grateful to the President for his support.”
Sabih Khan, who is Apple’s chief operating officer, added: “Apple engineers work closely with suppliers across the United States to create silicon chips that are on the leading edge of innovation.
“We’re committed to supporting U.S. suppliers involved in every key stage of the chip-making process — from the earliest stages of research and development, to final fabrication and packaging. We want America to lead in this critical industry, and we’re expanding our efforts to grow a silicon manufacturing ecosystem that will benefit innovators across America.”