As the blowback continues over President Trump's sweeping, stupid, and dangerous executive order intended to ban Muslim immigration for 90 days, we learn that Apple CEO Tim Cook threw himself into the middle of the fray during Trump's first week, sitting down to dinner with ersatz cabinet members Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner on Thursday, as Politico reported. Their fourth for the evening was Apple’s vice president of environment, policy, and social initiatives, Lisa Jackson, and the topic of discussion may have been Ivanka's stated intention to focus on the environment during her father's term.
BuzzFeed reports that Cook spent the whole week in Washington taking various meetings with lawmakers, including Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah.
Previously, as BuzzFeed points out, Cook said in December that it was his intent to engage the Trump Administration and others, because "Personally, I’ve never found being on the sideline a successful place to be," and "The way that you influence these issues is to be in the arena."
Following Trump's Friday order attempting to stop the flow of immigrants and travelers from seven Muslim-majority nations, Cook wrote a strongly worded memo Saturday to Apple employees nationwide condemning the decision. BuzzFeed published it in full here.
He said he'd spent the week in conversations "[making] it clear that Apple believes deeply in the importance of immigration both to our company and to our nation’s future." And, he added "Apple would not exist without immigration, let alone thrive and innovate the way we do."
He said of Trump's order, "It is not a policy we support," and:
As I’ve said many times, diversity makes our team stronger. And if there’s one thing I know about the people at Apple, it’s the depth of our empathy and support for one another. It’s as important now as it’s ever been, and it will not weaken one bit. I know I can count on all of you to make sure everyone at Apple feels welcome, respected and valued.
Apple is open. Open to everyone, no matter where they come from, which language they speak, who they love or how they worship. Our employees represent the finest talent in the world, and our team hails from every corner of the globe.
He closed with a great quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “We may have all come on different ships, but we are in the same boat now.”
And now we have to deal with this boat's unqualified captain in some stormy seas.
Previously: ACLU Celebrates Temporary Victory Over Trump's Order On Immigration; Mayor Lee Commends Federal Judge
