Why Apple needs Tim Cook more than ever in the age of Trump

Cook’s relationship with the president is helping Apple mitigate risk during this chaotic era. CEO succession talk can wait.

In December 2023, I wrote an article exploring Apple CEO Tim Cook’s most likely successors, because there will come a day when he steps aside as chief executive at the iPhone maker. I wrote the piece in response to rare comments Cook had made—to Dua Lipa, no less—revealing that Apple has “very detailed succession plans” in preparation for his departure.